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How has facial paralysis affected you?

The face is our calling card to the world.

Expressions represent a complex language reflecting internal feelings. A warm smile extends an invitation for friendship and social interaction.

When the facial nerve is damaged our expressions often betray us. The face refuses to portray our emotions and a smile becomes an awkward grimace or worse, an expressionless void. Loss of this important means of communication can produce self consciousness and social isolation.

Facial nerve paralysis is the unfortunate end product of a large series of complex disorders. Inciting events include tumors, trauma, viral infections (Bells palsy), strokes and congenital differences such as Moebius Syndrome, Craniofacial Microsomia and C.H.A.R.G.E Syndrome.

Innovative surgical techniques are now available to restore the paralyzed face. The goals of facial paralysis surgery include protecting the eye, preventing drooling and re-establishing facial symmetry both in motion and at rest.

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy...The surgical approach is customized to the individual patient and is influenced by the cause and duration of the paralysis along with the condition of the facial nerve. 

The use of advanced surgical techniques carefully tailored to the individual can provide a meaningful recovery for many patients living with facial paralysis.

Smile Restoration with the Masseter to Facial Nerve Transfer
Results of a surgery to improve smile from partial face paralyzation. Nerve grafts were used for a patient 14 months after excision of a right acoustic neuroma. The after video shows the same patient 24 months after a right masseter-to-facial nerve transfer and cross face nerve graft.