05 January 2023 , 09:47
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A model, whose lip was ripped off by a dog, can now smile again after getting multiple surgeries.
Brooklinn Khoury, 22, had her entire top lip and part of her nose ripped off by an angry pit bull which "was shaking her head like a toy", she said.
The horrifying attack happened on November 2 2020, when she was visiting family in Arizona, US.
During the first 20-hour surgery, which reportedly cost $400,000, the doctors took skin and an artery from her arm and built a new top lip for her.
Since then, she's needed multiple long sessions under the knife.
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After extensive surgeries, Khoury's lip is nearly back to how it was before (@brookhoury/Instagram)
Khoury's lip was completely torn off (@brookhoury/Instagram)Khoury, from Mission Viejo, California, has shared her recovery process on social media, where she has a large following.
She said it's made her a happier person and has boosted her confidence levels.
On her YouTube channel, she said: "I have learned to just love myself and love everything around me, and not to take anything for granted".
Although the healing process has come a long way since that horrible day in 2020, she is still going through surgeries and still can't go back to work.
Khoury in hospital (@brookhoury/Instagram)She expects to have about five more procedures but a huge amount of progress has been made.
She said: "Everything went well. The nerve, the tissue, the skin, it's all well, alive, and healing - which is really good and rare.
"My fingers can move, [there's no] nerve damage, thank God... I'm so grateful to be out [of the hospital], and I'm happy to be healing.
Her lip after the earlier surgery (@brookhoury/Instagram)"I'm trying to be excited for the next couple of stages of the surgeries, I'm just taking it day by day."
Back when it first happened, she said people would tell her to hide her face in her videos and photos.
But she always wanted to be open about how she looks, in case there are people out there who are going through a similar experience.
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She said: "I know I look different, I know I look crazy right now because of how swollen my face is but no point in hiding. I'm happy to share this, I'm happy to help anyone I can.
Khoury with her girlfriend, former Dance Moms star Chloe Lukasiak. (@brookhoury/Instagram)"I am not going to hide the process because if someone is watching this video and they're going through the same thing, they're going to be able to relate and they'll be able to feel not alone. I feel very passionate about sharing the vulnerable process."
Brooklinn was supported throughout her surgeries by her parents and her girlfriend, former Dance Moms star Chloe Lukasiak.