Mayo Clinic performs most face transplants in U.S.

Michigan woman now has Mayo Clinic's 7th face transplant

Third procedure in two years gives her new lease on life

After surviving a severe allergic reaction to a commonly used antibiotic when she was 18, Aimee Cobb, now 32, of Howell, Michigan, has undergone three face transplants in the last two years at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, which has performed more face transplants than any other center in the United States.

Her third and most recent procedure was performed in November 2022 after her body rejected her second face transplant in March 2022. Cobb is now recovering at home and doing well.

According to the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center, face transplantation is a complex procedure that involves transplanting a donor's face onto a recipient's face. It is typically performed for patients who have suffered severe facial injuries or disfigurement due to trauma, burns, or birth defects.

The first face transplant in the United States was performed at the Cleveland Clinic in 2008. Since then, Mayo Clinic has performed more face transplants than any other center in the country, with seven successful procedures to date.

The face transplant team at Mayo Clinic is led by Dr. Samir Mardini, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has performed more face transplants than any other surgeon in the world.

The team also includes a multidisciplinary group of specialists, including surgeons, nurses, dentists, psychologists, and social workers. They work together to provide comprehensive care for patients before, during, and after face transplantation.