Isabelle Dinoire, 49, lost her nose and mouth after a dog bite. She made medical history on Nov. 27, 2005, when she was given a partial face transplant using tissue from a brain-dead woman during a 15-hour operation at Amiens Picardie hospital.
Hospital officials in Amiens confirmed Dinoire's death, explaining that the delay in announcing her passing was "in accordance with the will of her relatives," who wished to protect their privacy.
Although doctors did not elaborate on the cause of death, the French media reported that Dinoire had suffered complications following her latest surgery. Le Figaro reported that Dinoire's body had rejected the transplant last year "and she had lost part of the use of her lips."
