Full face transplant man meets the media

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 11:54

Written by Editor

The 31-year-old Spaniard who underwent the world's first full face transplant revealed his new look before TV cameras on Monday.Identified only as Oscar, he thanked his donor's family and the medics that gave him a new face in March at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Barcelona.

A shooting accident five years ago had destroyed his entire facial skin and muscles - including nose and lips – and left him unable to breathe, swallow, or talk properly. Oscar still struggles to speak with clarity and will need months of physical therapy.

He told the news conference: "Friends, I want to thank the hospital coordinators, the entire medical team, the family of the donor and most of all my family who are supporting me these days." Oscar was considered for a full face transplant after nine previous operations failed. A team of 30 experts carried out the 24-hour long operation on March 20th at the hospital in Barcelona.

Led by Dr J P Barret, the team transplanted muscles, nose, lips, maxilla, palate, all teeth, cheekbones, and the mandible by means of plastic surgery and micro-neurovascular reconstructive surgery techniques. Doctors say he can expect to regain up to 90% of his facial functions. It was the first full face transplant performed worldwide, as the 10 operations performed previously had been only partial. The first successful face transplant was performed in France in 2005 on Isabelle Dinoire, a 38-year-old woman who had been mauled by her dog.