The world’s first partial face transplant was performed on a 38-year-old woman disfigured by a dog bite.

French doctors claimed the breakthrough surgery, saying a nose, lips and chin were grafted onto the woman and she was in “excellent” condition.  The surgery was performed at a hospital in Amiens, northern France, and the statement released said the transplanted organs look “normal.”

Surgeons refused to give other details until a Friday news conference, saying they were still unsure when the patient would be released.  Although scalp and ear transplants have been performed in the past, the claims by the French doctors are the first for a mouth and nose transplant.  Experts say the mouth and nose are the most difficult parts on the face to transplant.

The woman suffered disfigurement after being bit by a dog in May, making it difficult for her to speak and chew.  The statement said injuries of that nature are “extremely difficult, if not impossible” to repair using normal surgical techniques.