Face Transplant

Dallas Wiens, whose face was burnt off after his head hit a power line in 2008, appeared in public for the first time since the surgery on Monday.

He said he looked forward to hugging his daughter and hoped to return to university following his recovery.

Dr Jeffrey Janis said the 15-hour transplant "represents a new frontier in reconstructive surgery".

"The face feels natural," Mr Wiens said on Monday in slightly muddled but intelligible speech. "The smell of life - plant life again - and to know that I could smell a rose or anything like that again, it really hit home for me," he said.

Hunter, a 30-year-old man from Indiana had a full face transplant at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, only the third such operation done in the U.S.

Surgeons also transplanted Hunter's nose, lips and the nerves that allow for feeling and facial animation.

"The Hunter family is truly grateful to the donor and his family for this amazing gift. Hunter's operation comes less than a month after a Texas man, Dallas Wiens, had the most complete face transplant in the country, also at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Although Pomahac says Hunter's prognosis is excellent, doctors will have to monitor him closely for signs of infection and rejection of the donor tissue.

Since transplant patients have to remain on these drugs for the rest of their lives, there are longer-term concerns as well.

Kawamoto is not involved in Hunter's treatment.

Kawamoto also said that over time, patients who have face transplants may need additional operations.