The first comprehensive face transplant in the United States to meet the press

Dallas Wiens, the first person to have a full face transplant in the US, yesterday appeared in front of the press after a landmark surgery in March.

Dallas Wiens during the press conference on May 9.

Mr. Wiens, in Fort Worth, Texas, was completely deformed after an electric shock in 2008. The 26-year-old father underwent a 15-hour face transplant surgery at Brigham & Women Hospital in Boston. In March, Wiens was given a new nose, lip, skin, muscle and nervous system transplant from an anonymous donor who died.

In his first appearance in the press for nearly two months after the historic surgery, Wiens said he was looking forward to holding her young daughter and hoping to go to college after recovering. ' I'm only 26 years old. Life is long , "he said.

Wiens in the past, after an electric shock accident and after face transplant surgery.

The doctors at Brigham and Women Hospital said the nerves and muscle function on the Wiens face had not fully recovered but believed that Wiens would gradually improve.

' Before the surgery, he was like a man not present,' said surgeon Bohdan Pomahac.

Dr. Jeffrey Janis said the 15-hour face transplant is a new milestone in reconstructive surgery.

' The face has a natural feeling. It feels like it has started to become my own face , 'Wiens said.

The doctors could not restore sight to Wiens and he appeared at the press conference at the hospital with a pair of black glasses. But Wiens said his sense of smell was restored and he could breathe again through his nose.

Wiens said he felt the sense of recovery when a nurse brought flowers into his room. 'The scent of life, the plants are back. Knowing that I could smell a rose or anything like that, it was really a great thing. '

Scarlette girl caresses her father's new face.

During the press conference, Wiens also expressed gratitude to the family of the unnamed donor.

Wiens said the first thing he wanted to do when he appeared and returned home was to hug her little daughter. When asked about plans for the future, Wiens said: 'Become a good father and take care of your daughter, and go to college'.

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