A Boston hospital in the United States has performed the world's seventh face transplant.

The operation was conducted on a man who suffered traumatic facial injuries from a freak accident.

The 17-hour operation took place on Thursday at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital.
A team led by plastic surgeon Dr. Bohdan Pomahac replaced the man's nose, palate, upper lip and some skin, muscles and nerves with those of a dead donor.

Dr. Elof Erikson from Brigham and Women's Hospital announced the achievement at a news conference.

"What an important day in the life of Brigham and Women's Hospital. I am pleased to tell you that a team of the most talented plastic surgeons, nurses, anaesthesiologists, residents, many of them are here today, with the help of the New England Organ Bank, have performed the first partial facial transplant in New England."

Doctors say there is a 60 percent chance that the patient will look like he did before the accident.

Thursday's surgery was the second partial face transplant in the United States.

The country's first face transplant was performed in December of last year by doctors at the Cleveland Clinic.