With the help of 3D printing, a two-year-old girl born with abnormal facial development has been able to smile, laugh and dance again. The 3D printing helped reshape her face in a major surgery.

Violet Pietrok, from Portland, Oregon, was born with frontonasal dysplasia. It is the malformation of the face and head when they are developing in the womb. The problem is quite rare and has been reported in just 100 cases so far.

Due to the condition, Violet's facial features got widened. Her nose did not have cartilage and there was problem in the space between her eyes. Violet's eyes were so far apart that her vision was like that of a bird of prey's.

Violet also has a central cleft in her face and a growth over her left eye. Plastic surgeon-in-chief Dr. John Meara of Boston Children's Hospital has spent months to prepare for the surgery. Special attention was given to the molds of Violet's skull that were made using a 3D printer.

Meara developed around five different model ranging from the time of Violet's first birthday up to her October 2014 operation. Meara was of the view that he used them to know at what level Violet was growing and developing.

He also practised cuts and incisions, which he knew he had to make during the time of surgery. Meara stated that it is not like a free throw practice. He could not afford to go wrong.

The molds also allowed them to know what possible problems can come during the surgery. Meara said that the molds helped them to have a better idea about of what they were working with. The molds were used during the seven-hour surgery and referenced them when the doctors tried to find solutions when faced problems.