China's first face transplant recipient, Li Guoxing, is out of critical condition after surgery on Thursday, said the source with the Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, on Monday.

Doctors say it will be two months before they are sure the patient has not rejected the transplant.

Guo Shuzhong, one of Li's surgeons, said the blood vessels on the face are tiny so there's a possibility they may become obstructed. As of 6:00 p.m. Sunday no problems had been reported with Li's new face.

The patient is alert and talking and has a good appetite. He has eaten fruit juice, yogurt and gravy.

Li's face was injured when he was mauled by a bear in 2004.

He was given a new cheek, upper lip, nose, and an eyebrow from a single donor.

Guo said the hospital will not claim the surgery a success until the patient has recuperated for two months.

The hospital source said the patient has already seen his new face and is satisfied with the result of the surgery.

He said Li's new face will neither resemble his former face, nor that of the donor, adding that orthopedists will try to make his face look more natural.

Surgeons in France carried out the world's first such operation on a 38-year-old Isabelle Dinoire whose lips and nose were ripped off by a dog. Li's face transplant is thought to be the world's second such operation.

Source: Xinhua