Modern science helps in new ways

Can you imagine beingsavagely attackedby a dog? What if the attack was soseverethat your nose, lips and chin were completelydestroyed? How would youfeel about yourself? Would you be able to look at yourself in the mirror? And how do you think other people wouldtreatyou?

Isabelle Dinoire is someone who can answer all of these questionshonestly and openly.

Last November Isabelle was attacked andmauledby her own dog. The attack was so severe that her lower face was damaged, it seemed, almostbeyond repair. She was rushed to hospital and became the first person ever to have a face transplant.

With such severe injuries doctors offered Isabelle little hope that they would be able to repair the damage to her face usingconventional surgery.

Shortly after being admitted, she came to the attention of Dr Bernard Devauchelle who, unlike other surgeons, believed there was an alternative: "We found ourselves saying, yes, it's clear this woman needs a transplant," he said.

Two days after the operation she saw her face in the mirror for the first time. She said "I was scared to look at myself, but when I did it was alreadymarvellousand I couldn't believe it. I thought it would beblue and swollenbut it was already beautiful."

Now, less than a year after her 15 hour operation, she’s trying torebuild her lifeand there is no doubt how she feels about her new face: "I have been saved. Lots of people write saying that Ineed to go on, that it's wonderful. It'sa miraclesomehow."

Although there wereethical questions raisedabout their decisionto carry outthe procedure, the doctors whooperated onIsabelleare quick to defend their decision.

One of them said "Was it possible for herto live without a face?It's easy to saywe shouldn't have done the operation, but her life has changed, she goes shopping, goes on holiday, she lives again."