All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi has become the first medical institution in India to announce a face transplant programme. The initiative marks a major step in advanced reconstructive surgery for patients with severe facial deformities and loss of key facial functions. The programme is being developed by the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Burns Surgery and is supported by multidisciplinary clinical training.
What the Programme Covers
AIIMS has begun setting up a registry of patients with severe facial deformity, including cases where essential functions such as breathing, mouth opening and blinking have been affected. The department aims to identify patients who have not benefited from multiple prior surgeries and may be suitable for this complex procedure.
Training and Academic Preparation
An intensive cadaveric workshop and academic training programme is being held at the Burns and Plastic Surgery Block. The training includes:
- Hands-on cadaveric dissection.
- Academic lectures on composite tissue transplantation.
- Interdisciplinary discussions with related specialities.
- Exposure to donor tissue handling and surgical planning.
Facial skin was harvested from a brain-dead donor as part of the workshop, reflecting the technical nature of the procedure.
Clinical Expertise and Multidisciplinary Support
The programme is being led by Dr Maneesh Singhal with support from faculty in plastic surgery and allied departments. Experts from ENT, maxillofacial surgery, nephrology, immunology, pathology, psychiatry, critical care, anatomy and organ retrieval banking are involved. Face transplantation requires lifelong immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection, making nephrology and immunology central to long-term care.
Significance of Face Transplantation
Face transplantation is a reconstructive procedure in which all or part of a face is restored using tissue from a deceased donor. It is intended to improve both function and appearance in patients with devastating injuries, including acid burns, gunshot wounds and trauma. Around 80 face transplants have been reported globally so far. AIIMS has indicated plans for international collaboration and stressed that ethical readiness, patient counselling and structured training are essential before starting such procedures.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026