Spain Doctors Claims First Full Face Transplant

Spain doctors claims to have successfully completed the world's first full-face transplant. The Barcelona team of 30 surgeons, anaesthetists, nurses and transplant specialists completed the 24-hour procedure at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital. They replaced all parts of the patient's face apart from his eyeballs and tongue.

Photo: Spain Doctors Claims First Full Face Transplant

Spain Doctors Claims First Full Face Transplant

The world's first full face transplant has occurred only five years after Isabelle Dinoire, 38, in Amiens, France became the first to undergo a partial version of the procedure. Dinoire who had been mauled by her dog, received a new nose, chin and lips.

The recipient of the first full face transplant is reported to be a young man who was severely injured in an accident five years ago. The reconstruction surgery replace his entire face, including skin, bone structure, muscle tissue and even teeth, eMaxHealth reports.

A team at the Royal Free NHS Trust, led by Professor Peter Butler, said it was also "ready to go" with a complete face transplant on a burns victim.

Dr Alex Clarke, a consultant clinical psychologist at the trust, said: "Everything is in place for us to go ahead, and we are just waiting for a match between a recipient and a donor. We think the Barcelona procedure is terrific, and anything that helps normalise this procedure is a good thing."

The patient, who previously had a tube inserted in his neck to aid breathing and another into his stomach for nutrition, is expected to start "talking and eating, and also smiling and laughing" within a few weeks' time, This is London informs.