Barcelona Hospital Performs World’s First Face Transplant From Euthanasia Donor

Overview

• The Vall d’Hebron team said the partial facial transplant was performed in autumn 2025 and presented the case publicly on February 2, 2026.
• Identified only as Carme, the recipient had infection-related facial tissue loss and now reports restored sensation, speech, and the ability to eat as she continues physiotherapy.
• About 100 specialists took part in the multidisciplinary procedure, with engineers collaborating on detailed reconstruction plans.
• The donor requested euthanasia and consented to donate her face and other organs, and Spanish rules barred any contact between donor and recipient.
• Spain is a global reference in this field, and Vall d’Hebron previously conducted the first successful full face transplant in 2010, with roughly 54 facial transplants recorded worldwide.