Brooklinn Khoury Rebuilds Her Life After Devastating Pit Bull Attack

Brooklinn Khoury was building a career as a model and professional skateboarder when a sudden dog attack in 2020 changed her life forever.

On November 3, 2020, Khoury was visiting her cousin in Arizona when the family’s pit bull suddenly lunged at her face. She had interacted with the dog before and said she had no indication that the attack was about to happen.

The bite caused devastating facial injuries, completely severing her upper lip and damaging part of her nose. Khoury was rushed to a hospital, where doctors were unable to reattach the severed lip. The initial treatment left her facing a dramatically different appearance and the prospect of a long recovery.

Rather than keeping the experience private, Khoury began documenting her recovery online. She shared photos and videos of her surgeries, setbacks and progress, hoping that other people dealing with facial injuries would feel less alone. Her social-media following grew substantially as people followed her journey.

After searching for help for about a year, Khoury eventually connected with UCLA plastic surgeon Dr. Nicholas Do, who specializes in microsurgery and craniofacial reconstruction. Together, they developed a complex plan to rebuild both the appearance and function of her face.

The reconstruction involved multiple procedures. Surgeons used tissue from her wrist to help create a new upper lip, while additional operations addressed her nose, nostril and the shape of her reconstructed lip. UCLA Health later reported that Dr. Do performed five complex surgeries over 14 months, with Khoury’s final major surgery taking place in February 2023.

The February 2023 procedure focused on refining the upper lip, including recreating the Cupid’s bow and other features. Khoury later shared updates showing how her appearance gradually changed as swelling decreased and the reconstruction healed.

But her recovery was about more than surgery. Khoury has spoken openly about the emotional difficulty of looking different and learning to accept her appearance. She has described the process as a lesson in self-love, resilience and taking life one day at a time.

Four years after the attack, Khoury reflected on the experience by sharing photographs from her reconstruction journey and expressing gratitude for what she had learned. By then, she had undergone seven reconstructive surgeries and continued encouraging others to embrace themselves despite unexpected changes in life.

Khoury’s story has since become more than a record of physical reconstruction. By openly sharing the difficult parts of her recovery, she has built a community for people living with facial differences and shown how healing can involve rebuilding confidence and identity alongside physical appearance.

Source: NY Post