Face in the Mirror: A Surgeon, a Patient, and the Remarkable Story of the First Face Transplant at Mayo Clinic

by Jack El-Hai, Pat Grimes (Narrator)

For years, they came in on weekends to plan and practice—nearly sixty surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists, preparing to harmonize in a vast medical symphony. For the team at Mayo Clinic, it was their most complex surgery to a face transplant.

At the heart of this event was Andy Sandness. He grappled with feelings of isolation and shame after a disfiguring suicide attempt but was determined to reclaim his future, to be seen as ordinary, and to belong again. Alongside him was Dr. Samir Mardini, a surgeon with an intense, unwavering desire to transform medicine and create a new life for his patient.

Their story—told over nearly two decades—is a poignant exploration of resilience, hope, and friendship, as well as an incredible account of medical breakthroughs and scientific discovery that reveals the strength of the human spirit, and the courage to rise above our scars.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

Audible Audio

Published May 20, 2025

About the author

Jack El-Hai is a widely-published journalist who covers history, medicine, and science, and the author of the acclaimed book The Lobotomist. He is the winner of the June Roth Memorial Award for Medical Journalism, as well as fellowships and grants from the McKnight Foundation, the Jerome Foundation, and the Center for Arts Criticism. He lives in Minneapolis.

Reviews

[Dr. Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a pediatrician, I’m probably the only type of doctor not involved in something as multi-disciplinary as a face transplant. HOWEVER, I actually really enjoyed this book. I have next to zero interest in plastic surgery yet found this story exciting. Loved getting to know the patient, Andy, the the primary surgeon, Dr. Mardini. Always inspiring to read about innovators in medicine.

Thank you to the Mayo Clinic Press for sending me this! (I read the hardcover but could not find that edition on Goodreads)

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Face in the Mirror: A Surgeon, a Patient, and the Remarkable Story of the First Face Transplant at Mayo Clinic by Jack El-Hai

As a sociology enthusiast and devoted reader, Face in the Mirror captivated me with its profound exploration of identity, medical ethics, and the fragile boundaries between self and other. El-Hai’s narrative—centered on Mayo Clinic’s pioneering face transplant—transcends clinical details to ask urgent sociological questions: How does our physical form shape social belonging? What does it mean to “recognize” oneself—or be recognized—after such a radical transformation?

Emotional and Intellectual Resonance
The book’s greatest strength lies in its dual focus: the surgeon’s technical mastery and the patient’s existential journey. I was moved by passages detailing the patient’s struggle to reconcile their new face with memories of their former visage—a visceral metaphor for how society conditions us to equate appearance with personhood. The ethical dilemmas (e.g., donor families’ grief, the psychological toll on medical teams) evoked both admiration for medical innovation and unease about its human costs. As someone fascinated by Erving Goffman’s stigma theory, I found myself underlining sections where the patient navigates stares and whispers, a stark reminder of how bodily “difference” triggers social exclusion.

Yet, the book also sparked frustration. While El-Hai excels at humanizing the patient-surgeon dynamic, I longed for deeper sociological framing. How do race, class, or cultural beauty standards influence transplant access or public perception? The absence of intersectional analysis (e.g., how facial disfigurement stigma might differ for women or people of color) felt like a missed opportunity to ground this medical milestone in broader inequities.

Constructive Criticism
The prose is accessible but occasionally leans toward medical triumphalism, glossing over systemic critiques. A chapter contrasting Mayo’s resource-rich environment with global healthcare disparities would have enriched the narrative. Additionally, while the patient’s story is compelling, their voice sometimes feels secondary to the surgical spectacle—a tension that mirrors medicine’s historical tendency to prioritize “fixing” over listening.

Final Thoughts
Face in the Mirror is nevertheless a triumph. It left me haunted by questions about autonomy, consent, and the social construction of “normalcy.” El-Hai’s storytelling compels readers to confront their own biases—how might we react to meeting someone with a transplanted face?—making it essential reading for anyone interested in the sociology of the body, medicine, or human connection.

Thank you to Mayo Clinic Press and Edelweiss for the free review copy. This book is a rare blend of medical drama and philosophical inquiry, perfect for readers who believe the most groundbreaking science is that which challenges us to see one another anew.

Rating: 4.2/5 (A gripping, thought-provoking account that would benefit from sharper sociological critique.)

Note: As a sociology lover, I appreciated how the book inadvertently exposes medicine’s role as both healer and social architect—a tension ripe for further study.

[Becky Loader · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can read this and not get emotional, you are a hard-hearted person. Between the surgeons and donor, a man was given a new lease on life. Very moving!

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook. Narration was good. It literally recounted the medical and scientific details/specifics of a face transplant. It offered minimal particulars on the actual patient Andy Sandness. I felt no real connection to him as a result. The book was truly fascinated and learned so much about face transplants.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed reading this story of Mayo Clinic’s first full face transplant patient. Each person’s life was narrated with compassion, from staff and doctors who carefully planned and rehearsed the surgery and the group of people involved from recipient to donor and their families. This was a quick read and a page-turner, with a helpful glossary for those of us who aren’t medical professionals and a lovely photo section. Highly recommended!

[Katy Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened on audio.

[Geneiveve “Annie” Jannetti · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting and informative memoir that I’d definitely recommend to others.