DONEGAL teenager Alan Doherty, who was born without a jaw, had his final operation at Mount Sinai Hospital on Wednesday, June 18 to complete his new face. Doherty, 18, told the Irish Voice he was "Doing well after the operation despite the pain." Doherty hopes to be out of hospital by the end of this week. He will remain in New York for a further six to nine weeks for check ups. Doherty was born with a very rare condition called Otofacial syndrome - without a chin. He underwent a number of serious operations aimed at building a new jaw and lower face. Dr. Elliott Rose, chief surgeon on the teenager's case micro-surgically transferred bone, muscle and skin from Doherty's hip to his face last October. This operation, one of the most serious, took 16 hours. He spent close to a month in hospital recovering and was released just in time for his 18th birthday on November 9. Doherty will continue to breathe and eat through an opening in his throat. Doherty, from Letter-kenny, recently told the Irish Voice that all he ever wanted was a new chin. "My prayers were finally answered in the summer of 2006 when I asked for a chin up front to the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team," he said. Doherty communicates with his family, friends and the general public by typing on a special voice generated keypad, which he carries around his neck. It was on this keypad that he typed the words, "Please, I want a new face," to Bill Broderick, Executive Director of the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team back in 2006.Doherty was one of 20 Irish physically challenged children who come from both the Republic and Northern Ireland for a two-week period to participate in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged. Alan won five gold, five silver and one bronze medal and - a new face. Doherty's story has appeared in dozens of newspapers and television stations around the world including a personal appearance on the Late Late Show, Ireland's most watched and longest running chat show.Doherty, who was recently honored as joint Donegal Person of the Year - sharing the accolade with founder of the Friends of Alan Doherty Fund in Ireland Paul McBride, said he was very grateful for the astounding work done by Dr. Rose and was also grateful for the support he received from Bill Broderick, Executive Director of the Physically Challenged Irish and American Youth Team.