The subject of the first face transplant performed in America was released from the hospital yesterday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The patient left after 2 months of recovery from the experimental, 23-hour procedure. She enjoys being able to once again drink from a cup and taste a hamburger, the lead surgeon said.
“We can see there’s a return of confidence in the patient,” Dr. Maria Siemionow said of the unidentified woman, who underwent surgery on about 80% of her face using material from an organ donor. “The patient who is significantly disfigured is always apprehensive about going out and facing the world.” (More face transplant stories.)