Face to Face: The Issues Around Facial Transplantation

Date: Monday 1st February 2016

Time: 7pm

Venue: the Victorian Bar, Tron Theatre

Speaker: David Koppel

“The face is the mirror of the mind, and the eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart”

This session of the Café Scientifique series will explore the multiple issues regarding the cutting edge technology, patient need and ethical considerations of facial transplants. The first face transplant took place in 2005 and since then their have been significant developments, not only  in the transplant techniques but also in conventional reconstructive techniques. The presentation will bring to life the functional and psychological impact of major facial disfigurement and the groups of patients and their families that are affected. There will also be the opportunity for the audience to participate in a discussion about the ethics of a transplant.

David Koppel trained in medicine, dentistry and did his basic general surgery training in London. After coming to Glasgow for his specialty training he and has been a Consultant Craniofacial/Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in Glasgow for more that 15 years. His main clinical interest is craniofacial deformity and works at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and the Royal Hospital for Children. He is an Honorary Associate Professor in the University of Glasgow.