First full face transplant in Spain

Doctors have successfully completed the first full face transplant in Spain on Wednesday, medical authorities announced. It was the eighth of its kind in the world.

A 43-year-old man received a new face from a 35-year-old man who had died in a traffic accident. The operation was conducted in the La Fe Hospital in Spain's eastern city of Valencia, and lasted 15 and a half hours.

The surgical team of over 30 people was headed by Dr. Pedro Cavadas.

So far the patient is in stable condition.

According to the hospital, two other patients are left on the waiting list to find a suitable face donor.

Rafael Matesanz, coordinator for the National Transplant Organization, which had supported the transplant, said the organization "is at the moment concentrating on finding donors for the remaining two cases."

The La Fe Hospital is one of the three hospitals in the country authorized to carry out face transplant operations. The other two hospitals are located in Seville and Barcelona.