The 1997 film Face/Off saw rival characters played by Nicholas Cage and John Travolta exchange faces through a futuristic surgical procedure. In 2005, France completed the first face transplant, and now, only four years later, the technology is evolving.

Yesterday, the Associated Press released footage from the Cleveland Clinic showing the truly amazing evolution of plastic surgery. Recipient of the first US performed face transplant, Connie Culp, was ecstatic at a news conference revealing her new visage.

“I would like to thank the family for this Christmas present,” said Culp, whose identity remained anonymous until five months after her December surgery.

The reconstructive surgery was required after Culp’s husband, Thomas, shot her in the face and then turned the gun on himself. Thomas is serving seven years in prison for attempted murder.

Doctors used a donor face and rebuilt Culp’s nose and jaw which had been shattered during the horrific incident. Until now, Culp’s identity had remained anonymous due to the nature of the crime behind the disfigurement and the risk behind such a calculated procedure.

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