Face Transplant

Julian Pribaz, MD, left, and Bohdan Pomahac, MD, right, both of BWH Plastic Surgery. Photo by Lightchaser Photography.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is a world leader in promoting and performing this life-giving procedure. Learn more about the face transplant surgery program at BWH and the research that led to the breakthrough.

The surgery is described as a life-giving procedure because it has the potential to dramatically improve, i.e., restore, both a patient’s mental and physical health.   

Carmen Blandin Tarleton
In February 2013, a Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) surgical team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, performed a full face transplant on Carmen Tarleton, a Vermont mother of two who was burned over 80 percent of her body with industrial strength lye in an attack by her estranged husband in 2007. It was the fifth face transplant procedure performed at Brigham and Women’s.

Charla Nash
A Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) plastic and orthopedic surgery team, led by Dr. Bohdan Pomahac, performed a full face transplant on Charla Nash, the Connecticut woman who was mauled by a chimpanzee in 2009. The procedure was performed late last month. It is the third full face transplant procedure performed this year at Brigham and Women’s. A double hand transplant was also performed, however the hands failed to thrive and were removed.

Mitch Hunter
Then, in April 2011, less than one month after the first full face transplant in the United States, the BWH team performed the second full face transplant in the nation for patient Mitch Hunter. It was the third face transplant procedure to be performed at BWH and the fourth face transplant in the country. The team worked for more than 14 hours to replace the full facial area.

Dallas Wiens
In March 2011, the face transplant team, led by Bohdan Pomahac, MD, performed the nation’s first full face transplant for patient Dallas Wiens. The team of more than 30 physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists and residents worked for more than 15 hours to replace the facial area of patient Dallas Wiens, including the nose, lips, facial skin, muscles of facial animation and the nerves that power them and provide sensation.

James Maki
In April 2009, the BWH face transplant team successfully performed their first face transplant procedure and the first in New England, a partial face transplant for patient James Maki.