November 01, 2004

A medical clinic in Ohio will soon start screening patients for what is being described as the world's first face transplant. The Cleveland Clinic received approval from a review board on October 15, to perform the controversial procedure.

Someone severely disfigured by burns or disease could soon become the first person in the world to undergo a procedure that transplants skin and underlying fat from an organ donor, giving them a new face.

The clinic's director of plastic surgery, Dr. Maria Siemionow, said permission to perform the facial transplant was granted after 10 months of discussion and debate.

Doctors at the clinic said finding a donor cadaver might be more difficult than choosing a patient. They hope to perform the operation within the next two years.

Dr. Siemionow said the procedure has risks, including a 50 percent chance of rejection, something she says will be made known to any potential patient.

"It may not happen in our life, or it may happen sooner than you expect," Dr. Siemionow told the Associated Press.

Dr. Siemionow indicated she would start with a fairly simple procedure that would not involve transplanting muscles that shape the face. By starting off with transplanting only the skin and underlying fat the patient would not take on the appearance of the donor.