One model who suffered a severe attack from a pit bull has had her top lip removed by the animal. She underwent $400,000 surgery to get her smile back.
Before the incident, Brooklinn Khoury, 22, from Mission Viejo, California, was working hard on her rising modelling career. The skateboarder-turned-influencer was even gearing up to film her first ever television commercial, when suddenly, everything changed.
Brooklyn was severely injured when a dog from a family member attacked her face while she was visiting relatives in Arizona on November 3, 2020. According to Brooklyn, the animal was causing her severe facial injuries by shaking her head and ripping off parts of her nose and upper lip.
After undergoing life-changing surgery at the age of 22, she said she still had mixed emotions about it. This was due to her long, strenuous recovery process.
The $400,000 procedure was performed on a model who lost her top lip to a vicious bull attack. Before the operation, she is shown here
Brooklinn Khoury suffered a dramatic alteration to her face when a dog from a family member attacked her while she was visiting Arizona with relatives on November 3, 2020.
According to the 22-year old skateboarder, she said that her animal was shaking her head like an animal and had ripped her upper lip and some of her nostrils. Before the operation, she is seen with her doctor.
Brooklinn, pictured here with her doctor, has undergone life-changing surgery. Brooklinn admitted that she was unsure about what to expect from the procedure, and she also said she felt mixed emotions.
In a video she posted on YouTube just days prior to the procedure, she revealed that she would need a feeding tube to fix her nose after surgery. She was unable to move her mouth.
“I am excited to undergo surgery in order to start to heal and to be able to work with this doctor again, but it is also very sad that I have to put an end to my life to kind of heal and go through the healing process,” she stated.
“It hurts my brain mentally to go out and be active.
“Coming out from the surgery, my mouth is going to stop moving, so I will need a feeding tube to my nose.
I must be on a liquid diet. Five days must pass before I can leave the hospital. This is going to be quite a task, and I will need every prayer I can.
Brooklinn stated that Brooklinn’s lip will not look normal after her’very complex’ surgery. Brooklinn stated, “It’s going to not look like a perfectly formed lip. It’s only the foundation.”
According to the star young, she was going to use some skin and an arterial from her arm to make a new set of lips.
Her story also included the fact that she was unable to find a physician willing to examine her face for over a decade, although it was completely worth it.
“They will take out a main arterial and then fold the skin. Then they’ll put it on my lips. They will cut some of my skin to access the blood supply.
Brooklinn is pictured below, left, before she suffered the attack. She revealed this in a YouTube video that was recorded before her operation, and said that she would need to feed herself through a tube.
Brooklinn stated that Brooklinn will have her lip looking normal after the “very complex” surgery known as a Skin graph.
“It is called a skin-graft. It is extremely complex, but my doctor has the best advice. Finally, I found the right doctor. I now work with him. He is so kind and open-minded that it’s hard to believe he doesn’t think outside of the box.
‘It’s amazing. His creativity and artistic abilities are what I sought in a doctor. I am so glad I finally found him. It was a long wait but well worth it.
Brooklinn did the surgery on November 17th, but Brooklinn is yet to update us on how it went and how she feels.
She did, however, share a photo that showed her girlfriend – former Dance Moms star Chloe Lukasiak – laying in bed next to her at the hospital on November 22.
It was captioned, “My entire existence,” she said.
She posted another clip from within a store the next day, suggesting that she was now released from hospital.
According to reports, the procedure will cost at most $400,000 and require five additional surgeries.
The surgeons took some skin and an arterial from her arm, and applied it to her lips. It was reported that the cost of the surgery was $400,000, and she will need at least five more surgeries.
Brooklinn was able to undergo the procedure on November 17. However, she is yet to provide an update or share her thoughts about how it went.
However, she did share one photo of her ex-girlfriend, Dance Moms’ star Chloe Lukasiak, who was lying next to her in hospital bed on November 22nd
A day later she uploaded a clip taken inside a shop. It appears she’s now out of hospital
In an Instagram post after the attack, the model admitted that she was ‘scared’ for her future and that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to smile again.
‘It’s crazy how your life can change so dramatically in the split of a second,’ she wrote.
‘I’m trying to stay as positive as I can about this whole situation, but I will be honest I am scared about my future, or if I’ll ever be able to smile again or eat normally.
“This is just the start of an extended journey towards recovery. While I do not like to ask for anything, your prayers for me would make a huge difference. Remember to hug the person you love today.
The social media superstar came back stronger than ever. She posted more pictures on Instagram, and she tripled her Instagram follower counts.
Today, she is more than 58,000 strong and her story has made her relatable to more people.
Her first sponsored post earned her about $1,000 and she landed several major deals with brands like DC Shoes.
Brooklinn started her YouTube channel where she chronicled her journey to recovery. Her first video was viewed almost 250,000 times.
In an Instagram post after the attack, the model admitted that she was ‘scared’ for her future and that she wasn’t sure if she’d ever be able to smile again
‘It’s crazy how your life can change so dramatically in the split of a second,’ she wrote after the attack. ‘I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.’ Right after the incident she was photographed
‘I just decided there’s no reason to hide how I am,’ she told BuzzFeed earlier this year, of her decision to continue pursuing her career on social media.
The 22-year old has a relationship with the internet that she loves and hates, despite her successes. Sometimes, however, things get too toxic for her to continue to be a success.
Beauty is ordered in so many ways. I don’t want to go on social media and feel like I’m not a whole person, looks-wise,’ she continued.
Brooklinn shared her struggle to learn how love is, and even revealed the extent of her injuries in an Instagram post.
‘I don’t really feel any different because when I’m out skating, or hanging around with friends I don’t feel any pain. It’s when I go home and have to face myself in the mirror that I realize I look a little different than how I use to,’ she wrote at the time.
“I cannot change how I view the moment at this time, therefore I’ve learned to accept everything I see in my mirror.
The skateboarder was not knocked to the ground, but she came back stronger than ever. She continued posting pictures on Instagram after the accident, with her followers actually doubling.
“No matter our circumstances, we are all beautiful in our own way. She previously stated that we must learn to love ourselves fully.
Brooklinn, who was dating Chloe at the time she posted a photo on Instagram of them together holding hands in October, revealed her relationship to Chloe.
“Someone close to me told me something that really sticks with me these past few days. She said, “Beauty cannot be defined.”
“We are all unique and beautiful, regardless of our circumstances. Learn to love yourself wholeheartedly. Learn to love and appreciate the little things, and most importantly learn to see the “beauty” in everything.’
Brooklinn, who was previously Chloe, revealed her relationship to Brooklinn in October. She posted a photo of the couple holding hands on Instagram with the caption, “My favorite human.”
The ballet dancer shared the photos again to her personal account. She captioned her post using a simple heart and added a caption. Brooklinn also added the comment, “My angel,”
Buzzfeed previously reported that she was not getting surgery to alter her appearance but to preserve her gums. She told Buzzfeed that she loves her no-lip and is happy she can keep it.