Jay Leno Jokes About 'Brand New Face' After Sustaining 'Significant Injuries' From Garage Fire

Jay Leno downplayed the burn injuries he sustained from the shocking fire incident in his garage in an essay.

In a column for The Wall Street Journal published Sunday, the 72-year-old TV personality joked about his "brand new face" and opened up about his recovery following the Nov. 12 accident that made rounds online.

"Eight days later, I had a brand new face, [and] it's better than what was there before," Leno wrote in his piece.

According to the comedy icon, joking about the situation made him feel better because other people would also take it lightly.

"You have to joke about it. There's nothing worse than whiny celebrities. If you joke about it, people laugh along with you," he explained.

Regarding the fire incident, he admitted that he knew the risks that came with his hobby of tweaking and maintaining his cars. The former "Tonight Show" host reportedly owns a collection of more than 180 exotic cars and hypercars.

"But really, it was an accident, that's all. Anybody who works with their hands on a regular basis is going to have an accident at some point. If you play football, you get a concussion or a broken leg. Anything you do, there's a risk factor," he noted.

Unnamed sources previously told TMZ, NBC News and other outlets that Leno was working on a 1907 White Steam Car in his Los Angeles garage when a fire erupted and he got sprayed with gasoline by a fuel leak.

Leno was treated at the Grossman Burn Center at West Hills Hospital. Dr. Peter Grossman, the director of the facility, said last month that the star was "doing very well" shortly after sustaining "significant injuries" to his face and body.

Upon his release from the hospital late last month, Leno quickly got back to driving his favorite vintage Bentley around his L.A. neighborhood. His facial and hand injuries were visible in the leaked photos of his outing.

The television host was released in time for Thanksgiving, but the hospital said he would still need to come back for follow-up care.

"After a 10-day stay at the facility, Jay will receive follow-up care at the Grossman Outpatient Burn Clinic for burns to his face, chest and hands he received during a fire at his home garage," the hospital said at the time. "He is looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with his family and friends and wishes everyone a wonderful holiday."