Joanna had previously, undergone 35 plastic surgery procedures before the transplant (Picture: EPA)

A young woman left disfigured by a tumour has received a full face transplant.

The 26-year-old, only identified as Joanna, had difficulty chewing, swallowing and talking.

Poland’s Dr Adam Maciejewski, who led 23-hour surgery in only the country’s second such procedure, hopes the transplant of some 80 per cent of skin on her face will give her back those functions.

Joanna’s face had deteriorated due to a Neurofibromatosis disease (Picture: EPA)

‘Joanna’ is described as being in a serious but stable condition after the procedure.


Earlier this year Dr Maciejewski and colleagues at Gliwice’s Cancer Centre and Institute of Oncology performed Poland’s first face transplant on a man whose face was torn off by a stone mason’s machine.

His recovery is said to be progressing as expected.