Surgeons in France have carried out the world’s first face transplant.

The woman had lost her nose, lips and chin after being mauled by her dog while she was sleeping. In the controversial operation, tissues, muscles, arteries and veins were taken from a brain-dead donor and attached to the patient’s lower face. Doctors stress the woman will not look like her donor, but nor will she look like she did before the attack – instead she will have a “hybrid” face.

It has been technically possible to carry out such a transplant for some years, with teams in the US, the UK and France researching the procedure.

Thanks Julie!