Robotic surgery in facial transplantation: Current capabilities, technical challenges, and future opportunities

Dandoulakis, Emmanouil (2025) Robotic surgery in facial transplantation: Current capabilities, technical challenges, and future opportunities. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 27 (1). pp. 1539-1549. ISSN 2581-9615

Facial transplantation is an innovative method of reconstructing severely deformed faces, and it requires a very high level of accuracy since the face has a complex neurovascular anatomy. The introduction of robotic surgery to facial transplantation has the transformative potential where greater precision, reduced operation trauma, and improved functional and aesthetic results are anticipated. This article presents a detailed and comprehensive analysis of the advanced capabilities of robotic systems in facial transplants, with a particular focus on the fields of microvascular anastomosis, nerve coaptation, and intricate soft tissue dissection. Yet, the technical problems, such as insufficient robotic instrumentation, lack of haptic feedback, lengthy setups, and high costs, present serious obstacles. Ethical aspects, such as informed consent in patients and equal access to advanced surgery, as well as societal controversies surrounding the adoption of robotic surgery in certain reconstructions that are highly visible in society, are also critically examined. Other futures discussed in the article include the future of artificial intelligence in planning preoperative and intraoperative procedures, telepresence surgery as a method of expanding treatment to remote areas, and collaborations with tissue engineering to design bioengineered grafts. It is interesting to combine surgery, technology, and ethical news, so this article about the pros and Cons of robotic-assisted facial transplantation can be a good choice. To resolve the challenges, diminish disparities, and enhance access to this life-altering procedure, which ultimately will change the face of reconstructive surgery, it requires interdisciplinary research, robust clinical studies, and advanced training.