New Face for Chimp-Attack Victim

Nash before the attack, and post-surgery in Brigham and Women's Hospital, where she's currently recovering.

Charla Nash, the woman who lost her eyes, nose, lips and hands after being mauled by her friend’s 200-pound pet chimpanzee (Did you catch that? A pet chimpanzee???) has finally regained her face. She underwent a complex transplant surgery in May, which included a new face and hands from an anonymous donor, and revealed her new visage on the TODAY show this morning (watch the video here).

The face transplant, usually the stuff of TV medical dramas and only the third of its kind performed in the U.S., took 20 hours and dozens of doctors to complete. Nash’s new hands, unfortunately, didn’t take; after complications following her surgery, her new hands had to be removed.

Looking forward to her new life, Nash said in a statement, “I will now be able to do things I once took for granted. I will be able to smell. I will be able to eat normally. I will no longer be disfigured. I will have lips and will speak clearly once again. I will be able to kiss and hug loved ones.”