US woman mauled by chimp praised for new face

HARTFORD, Connecticut - A woman who was mauled by an out-of-control chimpanzee says she's venturing out more after a face transplant and says her new face is getting compliments.

Charla Nash tells NBC's "Today" show she's returning to more of her normal life and her donor face has begun molding to her underlying bone structure.

She says people have told her she's beautiful, which didn't happen before.

Nash was blinded in the 2009 attack. The chimp ripped off Nash's hands, nose, lips and eyelids before it was shot and killed by police.

Nash underwent a face and double hand transplant in May, but the hands failed to thrive because of complications and were removed. Doctors have told her she might be able to have a transplant in a year.