Nurses tend to Edmonton boy Maddox Flynn as he wakes up from a six-hour operation in New York City to remove a large tumour from his face. (CBC)

Edmonton toddler Maddox Flynn was recovering well on Monday from life-altering surgery in New York City to correct his rare facial deformity.

Maddox, 2½, was born with lymphatic cystic hygroma, which causes swollen bulges beneath the skin. He first underwent surgery in the Big Apple in May to remove a growth above his left eye.

This time around, doctors removed a mass on Maddox's cheek and in his mouth in an operation lasting six hours.

As Maddox awoke in a recovery room at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, the balloon-like growth was mostly deflated and his face far more symmetrical.

"His whole cheek, like, it's a little bit swollen because of surgery but nothing like it was before," his mom, Nicole Champagne, said in tears of joy.

Doctors and nurses perform surgery on Maddox on Monday in Manhattan. The operation was expected to cost $90,000, to be paid for by Alberta medicare. (CBC)

Milton Waner, the surgeon who performed Maddox's operation, said he was pleased to be able to do the surgery.

"Everything went exceptionally well," Waner said. "We got the vast majority of the tumour. I'd say well over 95 per cent of it is gone. He may have little bits and pieces left in skin, but that's not going to be a problem as far as he's concerned."

Waner, who has done this type of surgery before, said there is a small chance the growth could recur, but that could be be dealt with through future operations. Maddox will also need some "minor nips and tucks" to his face, Waner added.

Chance at normal life

Mike Flynn, Maddox's father, said the surgery will give his son a chance at a normal life.

"Life has been awesome for Maddox," he told CBC News. "He hasn't really noticed a difference. He's still the same old hyper little boy that loves computers and music and stuff like that."

Within eight days of the Canadian public learning about Maddox and his operations earlier this year, donations of about $175,000 were made.

The first surgery cost $50,000 but wasn't covered by medicare. Alberta Health has said it will pay for Monday's second operation, expected to cost $90,000.

The family hasn't decided yet what to do with the rest of the money.

Possibilities include donating some of it to charity or putting it into a fund for Maddox's future medical bills.