Face Transplant Patient Leaves Cleveland Hospital

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.)