The recipient of America's first full face transplant has expressed his gratitude after regaining his sense of smell following a 15-hour surgery.

Dallas Wiens, whose face was burnt off after his head hit a power line in 2008, appeared in public for the first time since the surgery on Monday.

The surgical team leader, Dr Bohdan Pomahac, said results form the transplant procedure will now allow Mr Wiens to "more fully participate" in his daughter's life.