Man Who Underwent Full Face Transplant Thanks Doctors

Posted on July 27, 2010

A Spanish man who underwent the first full face transplant in the world appeared before TV cameras for the first time today. The man thanked his doctors and the family of the face donor. The man is described as a 31-year-old man. The Guardian reports that the had the surgery after accidentally shooting himself in the face several years ago. The surgery last 24 hours.

During the 24-hour surgery, doctors lifted an entire face, including jaw, nose, cheekbones, muscles, teeth and eyelids, and placed it mask-like on to the man. He has been described as a farmer who was unable to breathe or eat on his own after accidentally shooting himself in the face five years ago. The head of the 30-strong surgical team, Dr Joan Pere Barret, said the man would need at least a year of physiotherapy and was likely to regain up to 90% of his facial functions.

His face does not look normal, but it looks great considering the extensive surgery. It still looks very swollen. The video is not in English. Take a look:

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