The patient whose facial disfigurement can not be reconstructed by conventional means.
The patient is between 18 and 60 years of age.
The patient has no serious infection, including hepatitis B or C or HIV
The defect was not due to a birth defect.
The patient is otherwise in good general health.
The patient will commit to extensive rehabilitation, adhere to an immunosuppression medication regimen, and participate in all appointments at the transplant center.
Patients who meet the basic eligibility requirements and wish to be considered for the UCLA Face Transplantation Program should contact Dr. Kodi Azari, the Surgical Director of the Face Transplantation Program at (310) 794-2558, for an initial evaluation.
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The process of choosing appropriate candidates for face transplantation is highly selective. Appropriate candidates will be motivated and committed not just to the surgery but also to a rigorous program of rehabilitation that will follow. Qualified patients will undergo an additional evaluation to determine if other conditions for participating in the study are met. This evaluation will include a medical history, physical examination and lab tests, X-ray tests, in addition to a psychological profile. In addition to medical and psychological considerations, appropriate candidates will be selected based on ethical criteria weighing the benefits of transplantation versus the need for lifelong immunosuppression.
After being accepted into the program, the patient will be placed on a waiting list until a suitable donor becomes available.
