See How 1 Photographer Captured Conjoined Twins After Their Successful Separation

Maria Clara and Maria Eduarda Oliveira Santana may only be 5 months old, but they've already been through a lot in their short life.

Born conjoined twins, the girls spent the first months of their lives attached by their stomachs. A few weeks ago, they went through a complicated separation surgery as their parents sat nervous and hopeful in the waiting room. After six hours in the operating room — with no complications, luckily — the twins were wheeled into recovery.

Photographer Mateus André, who introduced the twins to the world through his beautiful photography, was there for the family during this time of celebration and got to photograph the twins once more, this time separated.

Read through to see all of the incredible photos he took.