Face transplant patient uses new lips to smoke

[lindatat]

From the Associated Press:

Updated: 5:41 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. - The world's first face transplant recipient is using her new lips to take up smoking again, which doctors fear could interfere with her healing and raise the risk of tissue rejection.

"It is a problem," Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard, who led the team that performed the pioneering transplant in France on Nov. 27, acknowledged on Wednesday.

The woman's French surgeons made their first scientific presentation on the partial face transplant at a medical conference here this week.

The news about her smoking came even as American surgeons said that they were growing more comfortable with the French doctors' decision to try the operation and that they hoped to offer such transplants to more patients.

The 38-year-old Frenchwoman received a new nose, chin and lips from a brain-dead donor after being mauled by her dog last spring. The woman has been identified only as Isabelle because of French privacy laws.

The woman suffered a tissue-rejection episode last month but is now doing well, her doctors said. However, they said she has resumed smoking, which besides being bad in general for health is especially a problem after surgery because it impairs circulation to tissues and could raise the risk of rejection.

 

[DD]

Hmmmmmm

 

[lindatat]

I could only roll my eyes when I read it :roll:

 

[Rudyjohn]

Isn't that sad? That made me think of alcoholics who have had a cirrhotic liver replaced, begin drinking again.

 

[lindatat]

Isn't that sad? That made me think of alcoholics who have had a cirrhotic liver replaced, begin drinking again.

Well, you know, when her face doesn't heal properly, they'll probably just make her another one.

 

[Rudyjohn]

I have to say, and I'm not proud of it, but I am an ex-smoker. I still struggle with it every day and it's been years & years! It has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Sometimes, I dream that I'm smoking! Sometimes I miss it but then I know that if I cheated just once, I'd be hooked for who knows how long. Just like other addictions and dependencies. So, I understand her addiction.

 

[John R]

if i was the doctor that performed the operation, it would be more than a 'problem'. i'd be furious, wondering why i bothered. what is she thinking?


jr

 

[Ocean Lover]

I have to say, and I'm not proud of it, but I am an ex-smoker. I still struggle with it every day and it's been years & years! It has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Sometimes, I dream that I'm smoking! Sometimes I miss it but then I know that if I cheated just once, I'd be hooked for who knows how long. Just like other addictions and dependencies. So, I understand her addiction.

My Dad smoked for probably 40 years. He quit last year and still chews nicorette gum all the time. It is sooo hard for him, he says he thinks about it all the time. I just hope ha can kick the gum habit now.

I'm proud of anyone that can stick to it! Way to go JR.

 

[Beach Crazy]

I quit 4 years ago after smoking for 20 years. :clap_1:

 

[lindatat]

I have to say, and I'm not proud of it, but I am an ex-smoker. I still struggle with it every day and it's been years & years! It has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Sometimes, I dream that I'm smoking! Sometimes I miss it but then I know that if I cheated just once, I'd be hooked for who knows how long. Just like other addictions and dependencies. So, I understand her addiction.

I'm also an ex-smoker. I quit over 8 years ago when I found out I was pregnant. I suppose that's why I'm such an adamant non-smoker now - I find that ex-smokers for the most part are worse than people who have never smoked when it comes to tolerance of the habit. Maybe I have to be completely and totally disgusted by it to keep myself from ever wanting to indulge again.