Face transplant man goes public

A man who underwent one of the few partial face transplant surgeries in the world has gone public, revealing the results of the gruelling 30-hour surgical procedure

A man who underwent one of the few partial face transplant surgeries in the world has gone public, revealing the results of the gruelling 30-hour surgical procedure.

New beginning: Rafael hugs a nurse yesterday after undergoing a face transplant at a Sevilla Hospital. Pic/AFP

Identified only as Rafael, he spoke to reporters yesterday at the Virgen del Rocio University Hospital in Seville, Spain, where the surgery took place in January.

Rafael was born with neurofibromatosis, a congenital defect that left his face marred by benign tumors. Doctors in Spain replaced the lower two-thirds of his face with tissue from a deceased donor.

"I want to thank the donor's family and the medical team," he said.

Alone time

But Rafael, whose last name and age were withheld, won't be sharing more of his story anytime soon. He told reporters that he hopes "to be left alone."

Dr Tomas Gomez Cia, who led the surgery, wanted Rafael to appear in public in hopes of garnering donations for future face transplant surgeries.

Cia added that Rafael is pleased with the outcome of his procedure.

"Not only did he not see himself as a monster, but rather he also thought he looked younger," he said.

Rafael is the second Spanish patient, and the ninth worldwide, to receive a partial face transplant.

Full transplant

Last month a team of surgeons carried out the world's first full-face transplant on a young Spanish farmer unable to breathe or eat on his own since accidentally shooting himself in the face five years ago. It was the most extensive operation yet and the 11thu00a0 transplant worldwide.