ABOVE: Neil Mitchell speaks to two of the women who made the Trishna and Krishna separation surgery possible.

• PHOTOS: Inside the operation

Nick Miller, The Age: TWINS Krishna and Trishna have spent their first night apart as surgeons and carers celebrated the success of a marathon operation to separate their conjoined heads.

But the Bangladeshi girls now face a critical 48 hours as their bodies and brains adjust to their new configuration - and specialists keep watch for potential complications arising from such radical surgery.

The girls were in a critical but stable condition this morning, said a Royal Children's Hospital spokeswoman.
                    
Shortly after 4pm, the hospital's head of surgery Leo Donnan announced the girls had come out of theatre ''in great shape'', nearly 32 hours after they went in.

Some of the 16-strong surgical and anaesthetic team had been on their feet for nearly the entire operation. The neurosurgical team, who began painstakingly cutting blood vessels and brain tissue at 1pm Monday, took more than twice as long as their initial estimate of eight hours' work.

But the last connection was severed mid-morning yesterday and by 11am the twins were lying on separate beds for the first time in their lives. Two teams of plastic surgeons then stepped in to seal the holes in their heads where the join used to be, using artificial material and the twins' own skin.

Mr Donnan said the moment of separation had been ''a rather surreal moment'' after two years' careful planning.

''When everyone has known these girls as one, with their individual personalities - to see them as separate human beings is a pretty amazing moment,'' he said.

He said the surgical team were tired, but relieved and happy, keen for some food, cups of tea and showers.

The girls looked ''different'', he said. ''It's an amazing thing to see them as individuals.''

Premier John Brumby sent his congratulations to the team at the hospital. ''My heart and I'm sure the hearts of all Victorians, and indeed supporters from all over the country, are with the family of these brave little girls,'' he said.

''There is still a lot to be done and I wish Trishna and Krishna the very best for this difficult time.''

The twins' guardian Moira Kelly, who was the key to bringing them to Australia for the operation and has cared for them ever since, reacted with a mixture of relief and joy - as well as amazement seeing them in different cots in the intensive care unit.

Margaret Smith from the Children First Foundation said she and Ms Kelly had reached a point they had long hoped for. She said the moment she saw them in their two cots after the operation ''was just beautiful''.

''They look exquisite,'' Ms Smith said, admitting she shed a tear to see them that way. ''It's been very emotional.''

While she knew that there was a long way to go she was hoping for the best. ''I think you have to be optimistic about this amazing operation that has been achieved here at this wonderful hospital,'' she said.

Co-guardian Atom Rahman said he was trying not to get carried away, but he was also ''very optimistic''.

''I remember every minute in Bangladesh 2-½ years ago,'' he said. ''It's thanks to Children First and spectacular work by the doctors and the nurses. It is an absolute miracle.

''It is an amazing journey and we just hope the next journey is going to be as good.''

He called the sisters who ran the orphanage in Bangladesh where the children were found, and said they were very excited after praying all night for success.

Mr Donnan said the twins, who will turn three next month, were on respirators in intensive care, in cots very close to each other.

Intensive care specialists would now begin a gradual ''landing'' process where the twins would regain control over their bodily functions.

Once they are stable, possibly in a few days' time, they will return to consciousness and look each other in the face for the first time.

But Mr Donnan said there were many risks left to face and many more days before the operation could be called a success. Even after that, the rehabilitation process would continue.

''Their bodies have got to recover from this (operation),'' he said. ''We've got a lot of unanswered questions and unknown territory we're moving into.

''All I can say is that everything is in place for the best possible outcome. There is no one moment of great celebration - there is relief,'' he said.

PHOTOS: Inside the operation

View photos from inside the risky surgery to seperate conjoined Bangladeshi orphans Trishna and Krishna. 3AW will keep you updated on their progress live.

• Success: Twins separated
• The twins 'mother' on 3AW
• Father Bob's prayer