China’s first face transplant recipient, a hunter who was badly mauled by a bear, is recovering faster than expected and has even managed to smile, state media said on Wednesday.
The Xijing Hospital in the northwestern city of Xi’an, which conducted what is believed to be the second face transplant in the world, said the physical and mental state of Li Guoxing (30) was “pretty good”, Xinhua news agency said.
He was given a new cheek, upper lip, nose, and an eyebrow from a brain-dead man during a 14-hour operation on April 13 and 14.
A video released by the hospital this week showed Li eating eggs and steamed bread and he managed a lopsided smile, the report said.
“Li’s smile remains lopsided as the nerves on the right side of his face aren’t functioning properly, but the left side of his face appeared to show his happiness,” Xinhua said.
Guo Shuzhong, one of Li’s doctors, said the speed of Li’s recovery was beyond the hospital’s expectations.
French woman Isabelle Dinoire last year became the first person in the world to receive a face transplant. – AFP