Face transplant recipient speaks in public

Xu Jianmei, a 17-year-old girl who recently received a face transplant, has made her first public appearance since receiving the surgery on Oct. 14.

"I want to thank all the doctors and staff at the hospital. They gave me hope for a new life. I am very grateful," she said.

Xu, a resident of a small fishing village in southeastern China, was severely disfigured in a fire that occurred when she was five years old. She lost her chin, eyelids, and a large part of her right ear.

She was not able to receive treatment during the optimal treatment time, as her family could not afford it.

But last year, the provincial women's development foundation managed to raise over 210,000 yuan (34,481 US dollars) for an operation for Xu.

Doctors in Fujian Province then boldly proposed growing a new face for Xu on her chest using tissue grafted from her leg.

"First, we took a piece of blood vessel fascia from her thigh and implanted it in her chest. Then we inserted a skin expander beneath the part of skin where the blood vessel fascia was planted, so that the part could expand and produce enough skin for her new face," said Jiang Chenghong, Xu's surgeon.

Xu's operation went well, although she will require minor follow-up surgery to perfect her new face.

"There are some scars left behind. We need to do some minor work three months from now so that she can change her facial expressions more accurately," Jiang said.

Xu said she hopes to continue her schooling and attend college in the future.

"I am becoming more confident, as I can see the changes in me," she said.