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Face Transplant Patient Connie Culp Steps Into Spotlight

Before and after pictures of Connie Culp’s face transplant surgery are nothing if not impressionable. Hers was the first successful face transplant surgery to be performed in the U.S., and the fourth of seven total, to date, that have been performed worldwide.

Now, with face transplant surgery gaining press and ground, the procedure is really picking up steam—a face transplant surgery in Boston and a simultaneous hand and face transplant procedure in France were both performed in April ’09. So, what exactly does a face transplant entail? Will it become an extreme cosmetic option in plastic surgery’s future? And what’s next for Connie Culp?

What is Face Transplant Surgery?

The details of face transplant surgery will depend on the type of reconstructive work needed to restore a patient’s appearance, or to repair or replace the specific cartilage and tissue that was damaged.

Partial face transplants are performed when a patient only needs a small section of facial tissue replaced, such as the nose or part of the lips. In the case of Connie Culp, a full face transplant was needed after this wife, mother and Ohio home contractor was brutally shot in the face in 2004. Miraculously, she survived, but the extent of her facial injuries was so severe that Culp was initially unable to eat solid foods, smell, or breathe without the assistance of a machine. She underwent numerous reconstructive facial surgeries before having the face transplant.

Culp was given the face of a recently deceased woman, who’s family donated it to help Culp. Typically, full face transplant surgery leaves the facial bone structure and musculature of the patient intact; only the skin tissue, blood vessels, sublayer of fat, and nerves of the donor face are usually transplanted. The procedure can last anywhere from 8-24 hours, and has a recovery time of about 2-3 weeks.

After face transplant surgery, patients must adhere to a lifetime of medication for immunosuppression. Although transplant patients’ report initial shock and uneasiness at seeing a stranger’s face in the mirror, all recognition is not lost—when the original bone structure and facial muscles are present, recovered face transplant patients can often create the same unique facial expressions or facial quirks that were theirs prior to surgery.

Culp’s Face Transplant Fairy Tale Ending

The Associated Press reported that a team of plastic surgeons and medical specialists in Cleveland were able to replace “80% of Culp’s face with bone, muscles, nerves, skin and blood vessels” from the donor woman. Today, Culp is back to enjoying real food and is moving on with her life. Her face is quite different from what it was (some minor cosmetic surgery procedures in the future are possible for removing excess skin, etc.), but Culp is incredibly pleased and grateful for her new face.

If anyone, Culp knows the importance of choosing a trusted, credible surgeon to perform intensive surgical work. If you’re considering facial plastic surgery procedures, such as eyelid surgery or facelifts, or are in need of reconstructive surgery, make sure you find a qualified plastic surgeon to walk you through the pros and cons first!