Video: Face transplant for victim of vicious attack "I'm happy to report that the team has achieved tremendous success in providing Ms Tarleton with a full face transplant," said Dr Elof Eriksson, Chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the hospital. A team worked for 15 hours to transplant the facial skin, including the neck, nose, lips, facial muscles, arteries and nerves. I first met Carmen in June 2007 when she was airlifted to the Brigham following a vicious attack. Her injuries were among the worst I've seen in my career," said Dr Bohdan Pomahac, Director of Plastic Surgery Transplantation at Brigham and Women's and one of Tarleton's primary surgeons. Her surgical team explained the procedure to the media at a news conference Wednesday. The 44-year-old Tarleton, of Thetford, Vermont, was attacked by her former husband in 2007. He doused her with industrial strength lye. Dr Pomahac says she was "unrecognizable to anyone who knew her" but is now "recovering very well." She suffered chemical burns over 80 per cent of her body. Ms Tarleton's sister read a statement from her. She says, 'I feel great appreciation and gratitude for the tremendous gift that I have been given. This greatly improved my quality of life and physical comfort level,'" read Kesstan Blandin.