Opinion: Face transplantation edges toward mainstream medicine. Insurance should cover it
Almost $1 million is a lot to pay for a face transplant. Insurers should help.
Face transplantation, once a headline-inspiring medical treatment, is slowly moving toward mainstream medicine. Since the first such transplant in 2005, more than 40 of these procedures have been performed in more than 15 centers in nine countries. To acknowledge and support this shift, it’s time for insurers to step up and cover the cost.
For years, the standard treatment for devastating facial injuries and congenital defects was reconstructive surgery using tissue from other parts of the body. Surgeons aim to maximize the patient’s ability to breathe, eat, and see, while also restoring the natural, aesthetic appeal of the face. and may limit the individual’s ability to reintegrate into society.
