Reproduced from Best Magazine, 5th of August 2003.
Barbara Alves was working as a model when a flesh-eating disease ravaged her face. As part of a life saving operation most of her jaw, teeth, lips and part of her cheek had to be removed. She spoke to Best Magazine about her experience and the prejudices she dealt and still deals with. In 2002, Prof Iain Hutchison, founder of Saving Faces performed a 10 hour surgery to help rebuild her face.