The first male face transplant recipient faced the world on Thursday for the first time since his April 9th procedure. James Maki, 59, from Massachusetts, spoke with the Boston Globe about his new outlook on life. (Footage from the interview can be viewed at the bottom of this article).

"They’re going to look at me as a new person," Maki said.

In June 2005, Maki lost his nose, upper lip, cheeks, lower eyelid, top of his mouth and underlying muscles bones and nerves after falling onto a subway rail and suffering intense burns. For three years, he struggled to speak and eat solid foods. He was also ashamed to step outside his home in fear that his appearance would scare strangers.

The 17-hour procedure took place at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. The hospital will not charge Maki for the surgery, which cost an estimated $200,000. The surgeons donated their time, the Globe reports.

Maki is the second patient to undergo a face transplant patient in America. Connie Culp became the first recipient in December, and she too, faced the world recently at a press conference.

We wish both of Maki and Culp a full recovery.

Watch James Maki speak to the Boston Globe about his life before and after the surgery:

Click here to read the full story in the Boston Globe.