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A Chinese man who dented his skull after falling three floors, has had it restored, thanks to 3D printing.

Doctors at the Xijing Hospital were able to repair half of his skull with a printed titanium mesh, bringing the shape and size of the skull closer to its original dimensions in addition to facilitating some brain healing. Daily Mail reports that the man, recognized as Hu based on his family name, was involved in a fall from the third-floor of a building in Shaanxi province of north-west China ten months ago.

The 46-year old farmer's skull lost nearly half its volume on impact sustained during the fall. The accident also affected Hu's eyesight besides robbing him of the ability to communicate effectively.

Xinhua reported that Hu's wife saying that her husband would stay indoors and seldom talk with people in the neighborhood as they taunted and named him half-dead man. After the surgery last month, he is able to communicate better with others.

During the surgery, doctors inserted the 9.9 gram 3D printed mesh after separating the skull and scalp. In just about two weeks, the surgery scars disappeared and Hu's head showed signs of returning to its original dimensions. Doctors who performed the operation said the procedure was successful and Hu's body did not reject the mesh.

"Hu did not show any sign of infection or rejection toward the implanted mesh and his brain is well-protected now," said Guo Shuzhong, head of Xijing Hospital. The team that operated on Hu comprised doctors from various parts of the world while the 3D mesh itself was printed in Belgium.

Doctors are now planning to conduct a second surgery to completely restore Hu's face and also lift his left eyelid that would allow him to see normally. The second surgery will take place after three months.