The world's first ever skull and scalp transplant has been carried out on a Texas man after a rare type of cancer severely damaged the top of his head.
The 15-hour operation was carried out on James Boysen, 55, who also received a kidney and pancreas transplant.
After the surgery, Boysen revealed to Reuters News: "I’m amazed at how great I feel and am forever grateful that I have another chance to get back to doing the things I love and be with the people I love."
The software developer from Austin, Texas, underwent the craniofacial tissue transplant at Houston Methodist hospital on 22 May after suffering from a rare type of cancer called leiomyosarcoma.
After undergoing radiation treatment, the 55-year-old had three skin grafts, one of which "didn't take". As a result, he was left with a large head wound which needed to be treated.
Boysen, whose kidney and pancreas were both failing, received a triple transplant - all from the same donor. This, doctors say, is because it offered the best chance of preventing organ and tissue rejection.
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Reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr Jesse Selber, who helped perform the surgery, said: "For this patient, it means a new lease on life.
"He had a series of cancers of the scalp and skull that were treated with various surgeries and radiation, that left him with a large wound that was all the way down to his brain."
After the surgery, Boysen joked that - aside from the obvious - there was an added bonus to having a new scalp too.
"I didn't have this much hair [before]," he laughed. "So it looks much better."
