Faisal could be back in action in few months time

PETALING JAYA: Acid attack victim Faisal Halim can make a return to football in three to six months after undergoing his fourth surgery.

Selangor FC board member Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said the latest surgery involved taking skin from Faisal's thighs to graft onto his face and the national footballer is recovering well from the procedure.

Faisal received skin allograft treatment very early and this aided his rapid recovery to the extent that he can probably be discharged from the hospital as early as this weekend.

The nippy winger was also lucky that the skin graft managed to cover 100 per cent of the wounds, and laser and stem cell treatment would be considered if needed.

"Faisal was admitted on May 5. It has been almost three weeks and he has gone through four procedures. The first and second surgeries were to clear the acid on his arm, face, and left side of the body," said Shahril in a press conference in Shah Alam yesterday.

"The third surgery was for the skin allograft from Belgium, which was used on his hand and body except for his face. The fourth surgery took more time. The first three surgeries took three to four hours but the last one took six hours.

"Skin grafting was done in the fourth surgery, with skin taken from several parts of his body. The procedure went well, it's his rezeki.

"The specialist will monitor him and then we will know when Faisal will be discharged. I believe it will be in the next few days.

"Some might say Faisal's progress is very fast but it's due to two reasons. The specialist doctors used new technology, and the skin allograft, which usually takes two weeks to obtain, was acquired in 48 hours. If it had arrived slower, the outcome would have been different.

"Team doctor Hazwan (Khair) will work with the National Sports Institute (NSI) and specialists for Faisal's return to football. Based on the doctor's assessment, Faisal can return in three to six months but I hope he can return faster."

Faisal suffered fourth degree burns after he was splashed with sulfuric acid by two unknown assailants on May 5 at a shopping centre in Damansara.