Today in Focus The ‘guinea pigs’ who had face transplant surgery
Feb 19, 2026
Faye Bound Alberti, historian of medicine who studies the ethics and history of face transplants. Robert Chelsea, a pioneering face transplant recipient who survived catastrophic burns. They discuss the surgery itself, daily life with a transplanted face, medical and financial burdens, consent and ethical concerns, and questions about long-term support and the future of the field.
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Journey To A Full Face Transplant
- Robert Chelsea described how a car accident burned his whole face off and left him tube-fed for years.
- He flew from Los Angeles to Boston for a 16-hour full face transplant and later struggled with recognition and rejection.
Financial Burden Of Ongoing Care
- Robert described taking dozens of pills daily and incurring thousands in shared medication costs.
- He reported hundreds of hospital visits per year and financial strain including repossessed cars and reliance on fundraising.
Prepare Spiritually And Practically
- Robert advises future patients to seek spiritual support and practical resilience before surgery.
- He also humorously recommends good knee pads because you will pray a lot.