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Published January 14, 2015
Four days after the nation’s second face transplant was performed, the plastic surgeon who led the team said he is “cautiously optimistic” over the recovery of the patient.
Dr. Bohdan Pomahac of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston told ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ Monday that “so far he is doing very, very well.”
Click here to see photos of other transplant recipients. (Warning: Graphic)
Pomahac and his team replaced the man’s nose, palate, upper lip, and some skin, muscles and nerves with those of a dead donor during a 17-hour surgery Thursday.
The man, who was severely injured in a freak accident several years ago, has decided to remain anonymous for now.
Timeline of Face Transplants
Seven face transplants have been reported worldwide, with three of those occurring in just the past two weeks.
Nov. 27, 2005, Amiens, France: Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard led transplant surgery on Isabelle Dinoire, disfigured by a dog mauling. She experienced some problems with her immune system rejecting the new tissue, but she improved. Her appearance is near normal and doctors say she is doing well.
April 14, 2006, Xi'an, China: Dr. Zhang Hui led surgery on a man, Li Guoxing, who suffered injuries from a bear mauling. The patient died in July 2008.
Jan. 21, 2007, Creteil, France: Dr. Laurent Lantieri led the operation on a man, Pascal Coler, to address a rare genetic disorder that left him deformed. His doctors reported he was doing well a year later.
December 2008, Cleveland, Ohio: Dr. Maria Siemionow led the most extensive face transplant so far on a woman who suffered injuries years ago. The patient was never identified nor were details of her injury revealed. She left the hospital in February and doctors called her progress astonishing.
March 27, 2009, Creteil, France: Lantieri led surgery on a man who was disfigured by a shotgun blast. The patient was not identified. Doctors said it was too early to know how successful the transplant would be.
April 5, 2009, France. Lantieri led surgery on a man who received the first simultaneous face and hand transplant because of disfiguring burns. Doctors say he is in good condition.
April 9, 2009, Boston. Dr. Bohdan Pomahac led the team that transplanted the facial midsection on a man whose identity and details were not revealed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/story/nations-2nd-face-transplant-recipient-doing-well