A Pakistan woman has been left horrifically scarred after a jealous friend who did not want her to become an air hostess targeted her in an acid attack.
Kanwal Qayyum, 29, was injured after being doused with sulphuric acid while she slept by a bitter former pal who hated the idea of her bettering herself.
She lost her nose in the attack and surgeons have spent the past decade rebuilding her features.
Kanwal shared pictures of her remarkable facial reconstruction after medics completely rebuilt her nose using tissue from her thigh.
The photographs show the extraordinary transformation in Kanwal’s appearance since the attack ten years ago as surgeons have rebuilt her face and created a new nose for her
One of the team helping her has been hair transplant surgeon Asim Shahmalak, from Manchester, who travelled to Karachi to create two new eyebrows and new eyelashes in the left eyelid for Kanwal from hair taken from the back of her scalp.
Dr Shahmalak, best known for his work with celebrity hair transplant patients like Calum Best at Crown Clinic close to Manchester Airport, was reunited with Kanwal on a trip to Karachi last week where she proudly showed off her new eyebrows and eyelashes which have grown back following his reconstruction work two years ago.
Before the surgery, she used a black marker to give the impression that she still had eyebrows.
Dr Shahmalak is one of a handful of surgeons in the world who can carry out eyelash and eyebrow transplants.
In the UK, he performs these operations on women who have wrecked their brows or lashes through over-plucking or misusing false eyelashes.
Kanwal, now planning fresh surgery on her nose, has got married since first being helped by Dr Shahmalak.
Kanwal said: ‘I cannot thank the doctor enough – he has completely transformed my face and I love my new eyebrows and new eyelashes.’
The acid used to attack Kanwal can be bought for as little as 15p a bottle in the streets near her home, with no questions asked.
Father-of-two Dr Shahmalak, who lives with his GP wife Rubina in Cheadle, Manchester, said: ‘Kanwal is one of the bravest women I have ever met.
The surgeons have done a remarkable job completely rebuilding her features and I was delighted to be able to help with her eyebrows and new eyelashes.
‘It was wonderful to hear how she has turned her life around, found happiness and got married.
‘She is now having her nose remodelled and making amazing progress every time I meet her. It has been so rewarding to be part of her recovery.’
Daily Mail
