Face On, Face Off

Oh, there is nothing more exciting in my day than easily obtainable bizarre science news. It is with great joy that I announce the first ever facial transplant, performed by the French, of course, because the woman couldn't eat chocolate or drink wine, poor thing. Seriously, though, it's exciting - we're finally entering the age of Face/Off, which means that anyone who wants to will soon be able to look like either of my two least favorite actors. Oh, help!

Anyway, the AP/NY Times reports that the ethical issues involve performing such a sensitive surgery for non-life-or-death problems such as facial disfigurement. New Scientist, linked above, addresses this whammy:

Likewise, families of the donor must adjust to the possibility that they may see a living person resembling their dead relative.

Just picture it: you're walking down the street, minding your own business, when you walk past someone who looks oddly familiar. It troubles you, you can't be sure who it is, then suddenly you realize: by golly, that man had Uncle Jim's nose, chin and lips! Creepy.

Then they go on to say that this could basically never happen. Sorry for getting you all scared, there. Just thought we'd bring up these weird sci-fi implications that don't exist.