Isabelle Dinoire’s interview

Isabelle Dinoire, first face transplant, 2007.

At what point did you say:

. This time, I tamed it, it’s my face?

Never. I accepted the face of the donor, but I know that it is not mine. This is not either hers.

. Is it a third face then?

Yes. This is another face. This is my new life.

. You never say my face?

No. Once I said: I am scratching my nose. And then I immediately told my daughter: But I’m stupid, it’s not even mine. She looked at me and said: Well, it is yours.

. How do you feel when you look in the mirror and you want to wear your makeup?

It depends. Sometimes it does not bother me. Sometimes when it goes wrong, I tell myself, that anyway it’s not my face. I think about the donor.

. You talk to her?

Yes. I thank her. It makes me feel good. Basically, it’s only her who can understand me.

. After the operation, the British press revealed that the donor had committed suicide. What has this changed for you?

In the beginning it was terrible to hear that. She saved me. I too had made suicide attempts. And then, afterwards, it made us closer. I thought I had a chance, that I owe it to her.

. It gives you one more responsibility: you have two lives instead of one?

Yes, it’s true, a bit heavy.

. Did you want to meet with her family?

I would have liked, but it is banned in France. I wanted to say thank you. It would have been wonderful. But apparently they did not want it. Maybe one day it will be possible.

. You regret that the law forbids meeting with families of the donors? 
 Yes, really. We could tell them about the wonderful gift they have done.

. Is there a time when you forget about all this?

Mornings, when I wake up. As long as I did not see myself in the mirror, that’s fine. But at home, there are mirrors on every door, I cannot miss myself.