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Discuss MSNBC's new series, "A Change of Face."

News Type: Event — Wed Apr 29, 2009 6:51 PM EDT

The face. It's the first impression we make. It's how we converse with the world and express our emotions. It is part of our personality and our character. But what if something goes wrong? In this all new series on MSNBC, we see how three New York City surgeons dedicate their lives to perfect, save, and reconstruct the human face. These surgeons operate at the most critical moments, using cutting-edge medical science, transforming faces and saving lives. For these patients, their faces and their lives will be changed inside the operating rooms.

An all new episode of "A Change of Face" premieres on Sunday, May 17 at 12 PM ET only on MSNBC.

Visit "A Change of Face" here on msnbc.com to go inside the operating room with behind-the-scenes photos, exclusive web-extra interviews with the doctors, and an inside look into their patients' lives.

We hope you enjoy the incredible stories of these patients and their doctors. After the premieres, please leave us your thoughts and reactions to this all new MSNBC series here on Newsvine.

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Public Discussion (12)

{"commentId":6868563,"authorDomain":"oncologyrx"}

NaderNYC

I watched the show 'A CHANGE OF FACE' and thought it was absolutely remarkable what both the patients have endured and what these most skilled of Physicians can do. Thank you MSNBC for introducing us to these gifted doctors & and preparing a show of this magnitude as opposed to the typical Dr. 90210. I felt A CHANGE OF FACE showed a completely different side to where betterment of life is what matters through the aforementioned 3 physicians and not superficial beauty.

Thanks,

Nader S. RPh.

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#1 - Sun May 3, 2009 11:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":6873379,"authorDomain":"jennifer-l-robison"}

JennRo

I love that msnbc is doing this series! My daughter was a patient of Dr. Waner and he is an amazing man, we are so very thankful for his skilled hands and the partnerships he has with other experts he partners with. You would never know that Andi had such a large mass in her orbital socket, one year post-op and the scar is not even noticeable!

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#2 - Mon May 4, 2009 11:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":6885275,"authorDomain":"trnhanser"}

RAH128

I was so impressed with "A Change of Face." It not only showed you the medical side, but it brought you into the lives of these patients. It is true when they say "You can't judge a book by it's cover." I hope to see more programs that focus on real people with real problems....makes you think about how lucky you really are!!!!

{"commentId":6885275,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"trnhanser"}

#3 - Mon May 4, 2009 11:18 PM EDT

{"commentId":6992241,"authorDomain":"Louise24"}

Louise24

I was busy getting my daughters to bed. My husband told me I should watch the last part of this show with him. Even though I caught just the last 10 minutes or so, I am so thankful he made the suggestion. I would love to be put in touch with someone in this area. You see, both my husband and my daughter have Neurofibromatosis. No one in the state of North Dakota is equipped to work with this disease. In fact, my husband just had surgery on March 30 for what was supposed to be an out-patient procedure (removing neurofibromas from his chest, back and neck), but Trinity Hospital figured they could just use the road map of his past neck surgery he had about 20 years ago to take out this most recent mass.

That's right. No ultrasound, no X-ray, no MRI. He almost died. They got into the base of his scull where the largest mass was located. What they found was a blood vessel tumor that was bigger than a baseball but smaller than a softball. They had to bring in two additional surgeons to save him. After not hearing anything on how he was doing (you see it was supposed to be a "15-minute procedure") for about 3 hours, it was then that I found out he had lost vast amounts of blood.

I don't mean to be @!$%#ing about this too much, because I am grateful they saved him. But I wish they could have been more cautious and performed proper pre-care options. Following the surgery, the surgeon noted he would have like to do an angiogram because he was concerned about my husband's blood vessels. I asked about having an MRI at Mayo Clinic, where my daughter sees a geneticist for the same condition. He said that could probably be arranged. At the followup appointment, no mention of the angiogram was made. And when I asked about an MRI, his response to my husband and me was, "Well, you know, MRI's are SO expensive."

And that's what's wrong with medical care in our country. We have insurance. He is retired military. Perhaps it's just too much of a problem for the medical doctors to try and deal with military insurance and we are better off getting ready to pay for a casket. I know insurance types are incredibly crappy to deal with. I have to fight the military insurance everytime I try and get help for my daughter. Some physicians are fantastic and persistent and I thank God for them. I am just hoping no additional damage was done because of the trauma my husband endured.

I know that it is someone in Arizona making the decision as to whether or not my husband or my daughters have the right to live or die because they can approve or disapprove a request at a top-notch facility. The premium is all they want. To hell with our service people and their families. To hell with anyone who may have additional medical issues. We are expendable in their eyes.

Thank you MSNBC for showing and teaching us about the options out there. While I am sure there are audiences for all types of shows, and I mean no disrespect, your focus on programming of this type is much more beneficial than any segment of Lockup could ever be.

Thank you again.

Louise

{"commentId":6992241,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"Louise24"}

#4 - Mon May 11, 2009 12:17 AM EDT

{"commentId":6995635,"authorDomain":"crackerbx"}

Ms Michey

My heart goes out to you, Louise. I admire the fight in you and agree with you regarding the callous, heartless insurance industry. Please stay strong and keep up the fight. I wish you only the best.

{"commentId":6995635,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"crackerbx"}

#4.1 - Mon May 11, 2009 9:41 AM EDT

{"commentId":6995567,"authorDomain":"crackerbx"}

Ms Michey

I wish I had known of this before now. Have the doctors ever had any experience with discoid lupus scarring? Is it possible to fix or minimize those scars on the face?

{"commentId":6995567,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"crackerbx"}

#5 - Mon May 11, 2009 9:36 AM EDT

{"commentId":7142747,"authorDomain":"smithcc"}

Carrie Smith

I was so bummed that I missed the 3rd episode. It was supposed to be on at 10 pm ET on 5/17 and I was suprised to see Charles Manson! Is there some way that I can get a copy of that episode? Our daughter was going to be on that episode!

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#6 - Mon May 18, 2009 10:58 AM EDT

{"commentId":7145673,"authorDomain":"cesca"}

Cesca-1109964

Hello:

We missed last night's episode. Will it be repeated? Is there a way to get a copy?

Our daughter Brielle is having her Forehead Hemangioma removed by Dr Waner on Wed. morning. We would love for her to have a copy of the series.

Thank you in advance.

{"commentId":7145673,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"cesca"}

#7 - Mon May 18, 2009 1:43 PM EDT

{"commentId":7151089,"authorDomain":"nkissam"}

Nancy Kissam

Our programming was also in error as the program (episode 3 5/17) was replaced by a special on C.Manson. Please let us know if there is anyway to order or view this program again or if it will re-air

{"commentId":7151089,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"nkissam"}

#8 - Mon May 18, 2009 6:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":7636197,"authorDomain":"oncologyrx"}

NaderNYC

Yes, I also missed episode #3 I had my Tivo ready and recorded Charles Manson a complete opposite of my viewing pleasure. Where can i get a copy? or re-aired?

{"commentId":7636197,"threadId":"568573","contentId":"2752143","authorDomain":"oncologyrx"}

#9 - Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:33 AM EDT

{"commentId":8650701,"authorDomain":"bridget-harrington-ernst"}

Bridget Harrington Ernst

Sadly, Anthony passed away last Saturday, August 1st while jet skiing. While I didn't know him personally, we were from the same small town and he was very well liked and he had many friends and will be missed.

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#10 - Wed Aug 5, 2009 8:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":8962404,"authorDomain":"tikistadium"}

Bill Slover

Anthony, who was featured in the first episode, left us on August 1st, 2009.

Anthony did not let his condition beat him, he died in an accident, doing what he loved doing.

For those of you who didn't know him, he was more than a friend. He was an inspiration to a community. Anthony will be greatly missed by many.

We have set up a memorial page on facebook if you would like to see what he meant to so many people.

http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=109905554098

I would like to thank the producers of this series for giving people who didn't know Anthony, a chance to meet him and for those of us who did know him, a chance to understand what he went through.

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