Surgery to reconstruct a Somali war victim’s face has gone well and doctors  expect her to remain in a Queensland hospital for another week.

Ayaan Mohamed’s face was disfigured when she was shot as an infant in  Somalia’s brutal civil war.

Years after the horrific injury, she was granted a chance to have “a face  like everyone else” when the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane offered to rebuild her  face.

The 25-year-old flew to the Sunshine State capital earlier this month, with  the help of two local Rotary clubs, which helped fund-raise and secure her  visa.

Ms Mohamed underwent the long-awaited facial reconstruction surgery on  Saturday.

The procedure went for 11 hours and required a team of 20, including  surgeons, anaesthetists and nurses.

Wesley Hospital surgeon Dr John Arvier and Dr David Chin said the surgery  went exactly as planned.

The two doctors said in a statement late on Saturday they were grateful for  the messages of support from Australians and those in Somaliland.

“Ms Mohamed is expected to be in the Wesley Hospital for about a week and  then will continue to be monitored as an outpatient,” the statement read.

Wesley Hospital is part of Uniting Care Health, which is covering the  hospital costs.

This week Dr Arvier told reporters the operation would require tissue from  the side of her face, skin from her forearm and a synthetic implant to cover a  hole between her eye socket and jaw.

Former Somaliland first lady Edna Adan Ismail said Ms Mohamed was looking  forward to having a face like everyone else.

Ms Mohamed was initially denied a medical visa last year but, following a  petition from 40,000 people, Immigration Minister Scott Morrison approved a  second visa.

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Source:brisbanetimes.com.au