A Chinese Hunter on the Road to Recovery after a Facial Transplant

Li Guoxing, a Chinese by origin and a hunter by profession was the second person in the world to undergo a facial transplant. As of now the doctors say that his condition is stable but the success of the operation could be revealed after sixty days. It is one of a kind operation done in china. The doctors reported to the press that Mr. Li has crossed the critical period and is recovering well. He is thirty years old and was attacked by a black bear. In the attack his face was partially disfigured eventually he lost his nose and the entire right side of the face was mauled very badly. He received a partial face transplant operation in a north-western Chinese hospital on the 14 of April 2006.

The Natural Conservancy (TNC), a leading US-based non-profit organisation whose main aim is to preserve the biodiversity of life on earth and to work for the development of the animal resources around the world. They also studied the living conditions of black bears in Asia and also tries to offer help to those who are injured by wild animals. They came forward to help Li. Zhou Dequn, who works on the TNC project in Lijiang in Yunnan was initially very skeptical whether they would be able to extend a helping hand. Then Zhou contacted the Xijing hospital in Xi'an, which had successfully performed a facial skin transplant operation on a rabbit, through a local medical college in Yunnan and asked if it could operate on Li. The hospital also agreed for the new challenge and ventured in. Li is very thankful to the hospital authorities as well as the TNC organization.