I'm ready to do it again, says face surgeon

[Thom Little]

The surgeon who performed the world's first face transplant dismissed the growing controversy surrounding the surgery as he announced plans to carry out at least five similar operations.

Prof Jean-Michel Dubernard, who conducted the 15-hour operation nine days ago, said he had just seen his patient, Isabelle Dinoire, and said she was happy and doing "impeccably well".

"The appearance of the graft is normal," said the professor, who carried out the world's first double hand graft five years ago. "She even finds her new face better than before. That should put to rest all the ethical controversy."

Doctors have accused the professor's team of operating without ensuring that the patient was psychologically prepared.


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