Brooklinn Khoury was making a name for herself as a social media influencer before she was set upon by a dog back in November 2020.
The 25-year-old was hanging out with her cousin and her eight-year-old pit bull, Diesel, the day before she was set to star in a TV commercial. After a day out, they all went back to Brooklinn’s house to chill.
But things took a dark turn when Diesel suddenly spun round and lunged at Brooklinn, sinking his teeth into her face and ripping off her top lip.
Speaking to Inside Edition about the terrifying incident, Brooklinn said: “He was hanging off of my mouth.”
Following the attack, she took a photo of her face, which she finds it difficult to look at.
“You could see the fear in my eyes, ‘Oh my God, that’s what I look like’,” she recalled. “How do you fix this? How do you fix this?’ I didn’t realise he had taken off my whole lip.”
Brooklinn was attacked by her cousin’s dog. (Inside Edition)
In the four years since the incident, Brooklinn has come a long way, documenting her progress on Instagram and being transparent about the difficulties she’s faced.
Brooklinn said: “Just having to look at myself in the mirror and having to tell myself and believe that what I am seeing is not the final product and loving myself regardless of how I look just from the inside out.”
But after undergoing half a dozen surgeries – some of which lasted around 20 hours – she now has her smile back. However, due to the nature of her injuries, it took Brooklinn over a year to find a doctor who was willing to take it on.
She has praised her doctor as an ‘artist’ on Instagram following her last huge procedure in 2023, revealing her plans to get lip tattoos as her final step.
In a post documenting her transformation, she told her followers: “I have learned so much more than to just love what I see in the mirror these last couple years. Ive learned how rare and amazing it is to find a surgeon you can trust, communicate, and laugh with. I’ve learned so much about modern medicine, and all the things you can accomplish.
“I’m in awe of what my surgeon has been able to do. He is a true artist. Being able to love myself through every step of this reconstruction process has been the most amazing part. I’ve learned to love every scar, and every difference I see on myself that makes me, me. Looking back on photos like these really puts into perspective of how much of a journey it’s been. I’ve been so grateful and so blessed.
