is it possible to get a voice box transplant?

Question

i was thinking when i get older if i can get a dead singers vocal chords and put them in me ,,,,,,iif so plz tell me the website that deals with voice

Answer 1

Not if you expect that voice box to work in any fashion, never mind singing.
Talking and singing are highly complex processes that require the careful coordination of breathing, mouth and tongue movements and also control of the voice box. For this to be possible, all these parts are connected to the brain with extra thick nerve bundles - and there it fails because even if the nerves can be made to grow together, they will never remotely achieve the control quality that the original had. Also, it is not only the voice box that makes the sound but also the brain, and you hardly want to transplant that.

Also, transplanting any organ from one person into another requires that their tissue types match to even have a chance not to have it rejected. And even then the recipient would have to take heavy medication suppressing their immune system for the rest of their life.

The risks of rejection are so high and the medication so severe that only very very ill people are even considered for an organ transplant.

However, all is not lost: You might not like your voice, but every voice can be trained. You may not reach opera level, but you stand a good chance to develop a nice singing voice of your own. Take singing lessons or volunteer for a choir. People there are usually very open and will help you with the development of your voice.

Answer 2

Voice box transplantation has been made possible. If you will find a matching donor then you can have a transplant. HOWEVER, do not keep your expectations high to have such a good quality of voice. The laryngeal nerves are highly sensitive that handling them during the surgery most commonly has degrading effect on the voice quality. The negative side of the tranplant is the time it would take to regain the voice plus risks the transplant would incur and not to forget the cost of the procedure. Hence, the best option for a person with a nomal voice: should be contented with it and take extensive voice training if insists to have a better voice. Search "voice trainer" and you will find many websites that deals with voice.

Check out these links:
http://www.webmd.com/news/20010530/first-voice-box-transplant-speaks-for-itself
http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,3858,4205089-103690,00.html

Answer 3

Highly unlikely son.