Overview
- The Barcelona hospital disclosed the case on February 2 after months of follow-up, describing it as a global first in facial transplantation.
- The recipient, Carme, received a central partial facial graft after severe necrosis from a 2024 insect‑bite infection left her unable to eat or speak.
- About 100 specialists carried out the day‑long procedure to transplant skin, muscle, nerves and bone, with the team also reporting novel perfusion and neurophysiological monitoring.
- Prearranged consent let clinicians obtain CT scans of donor and recipient, build 3D models and custom cutting guides, and coordinate the facial graft with multiorgan procurement.
- Hospital officials say Carme can now swallow and speak and is in rehabilitation, and they note the donor’s lungs, liver, kidneys and tissues benefited multiple patients under strict anonymity rules.