Spanish face transplant man goes public

London, May 5 (ANI): A Spaniard who had one of the world's first face transplants has unveiled his face to the world.

The patient named only as Rafael appeared in public to thank the donor and surgeons who operated on him.

He said: "I am full of joy and happiness. I want to thank the family of the donor and the medical team."

Rafael, 34, was the third person in Spain and the tenth in the world to receive a partial face transplant, reports The Sun.

He spoke with difficulty at a Press conference at the hospital in Seville, Spain, where he had undergone the 30-hour surgery in January.

Doctors replaced the bottom two-thirds of his face after a congenital disease, neurofibromatosis, had left him with multiple benign tumors.

His face is still inflamed and he has to endure months of rehabilitation, but Rafael can now distinguish between hot and cold, and can feel pain in his lips again. (ANI)