Chimp Attack Victim Gets New Face: Will Face Transplants Be Common Practice Soon?

In a historic surgery, a 57-year-old woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee, became the third person in the U.S. to receive a full face transplant. This week, Charla Nash released photos of her remarkable transformation.

Two years ago, Nash was visiting her neighbor, Sandra Herold, when Herold's chimpanzee went berserk and tore off Nash's hands, eyes, nose, lips, and ears. Nash survived the attack but was left permanently blind and unable to eat solid food. After being released from the hospital, she lived in an assisted-living facility and had to breath through a tube.

In May, Nash underwent simultaneous double hand and face transplant surgeries. In a 20-hour operation, doctors transplanted facial tissue, including skin, nerves, and muscles, from the donor to Nash. As Nash recovers, the tissue will begin to conform to her underlying facial structure, allowing her to look something like she did before the attack. According to doctors, Nash will not resemble the donor.

Unfortunately, the hand transplants were not as successful. Doctors had to remove the hands after Nash developed pneumonia and kidney failure, which led to "circulation issues." Doctors say that they may be able to try again when another pair of donor hands becomes available. However, such a surgery would have an increased risk of rejection, as it would be introducing tissue from a second donor (in addition to that from Nash's face transplant).

Regardless, Nash is thankful for the many ways the face transplant will improve her quality of life. "I will be able to smell. I will be able to eat normally. I will no longer be disfigured," she said. "I will have lips and will speak clearly once again. I will be able to kiss and hug loved ones. I am tremendously grateful to the donor and her family."

Face transplants are still considered experimental procedures and have been the subject of ethical debate in the news and on shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "Nip/Tuck." Many worry about the psychological and moral impacts of wearing another person's face. Others fear that the technology will be abused for aesthetic reasons. Yet, we should remember that kidney and heart transplant surgeries, which are now commonly accepted, were also initially met with resistance.

What do you think? Will face transplant surgeries become commonly accepted?