What is facial palsy?

Facial palsy can be a debilitating condition, causing partial or complete paralysis of the facial muscles. In rare cases, it may affect both sides of the face. As a result, individuals who suffer from facial palsy might experience issues with speech and eating as well as difficulty expressing emotions through their faces - all factors that contribute to potential social isolation and depression.

Symptoms of facial palsy

Depending on the severity of your facial palsy, symptoms may vary. In minor cases, you may only observe a slight dip in one corner of your mouth. However, more serious instances can lead to the entire face being paralyzed.

Common symptoms of facial palsy include:

• Drooling
• Excessive tearing of eyes
• Impaired sense of smell
• Difficulty eating
• Difficulty speaking
• Drooping or trouble making facial expressions
• Weakness or paralysis on one side or both sides of the face

Causes of facial palsy

There are various causes of facial palsy, such as:

• Bell’s palsy: Bell’s palsy is the most common type of facial paralysis, yet its precise cause remains unknown. Still, many scientists assume that it transpires because of harm to the seventh cranial nerve, which is responsible for controlling facial muscle movements.
• Trauma to the face: Injuries to the face, including car accidents or major tumbles may result in facial palsy.
• Infection: Facial palsy can be caused by various viral infections, including Ramsay Hunt syndrome which is triggered by the varicella-zoster virus.
• Tumors: Malignant tumors can cause facial palsy through compression of the nerve responsible for controlling facial muscles.

How is Facial Palsy Correction performed?

The goal of facial palsy surgery is to return natural and automatic facial movements. There are many different types of facial palsy correction and they all rely on different techniques to achieve this. Generally, facial palsy correction involves the use of a range of surgeries that may include:

Brow Ptosis Correction

Brow ptosis, or eyebrow drooping, can be corrected with an aesthetic surgical procedure called a brow lift. In this procedure, Dr. Sudhakar Prasad makes a small incision above your eyebrow to elevate it into its desired higher position on the forehead.

Lid Lag Correction

Lid lag is a condition where the eyelid does not close fully. Lid lag correction involves various methods to help the upper eyelid close fully. Lid lag correction can be done by placing a small gold weight or metal springs in the eyelid, attaching a small muscle to the eyelid, or stitching the eyelid partially closed.

Lower Eyelid Retraction

Lower eyelid retraction is a condition where the lower eyelid moves downward and away from the eye. This can be corrected by tightening or shortening the lower eyelid muscle, or by grafting a tendon, muscle, or cartilage piece to the lower eyelid.

Nasal Airway Repair

When an individual has facial paralysis, they may find it hard to breathe through their nose due to nasal blockage. By fixing any blockages within the nasal passages, a nasal airway repair surgery can dramatically improve airflow through the nose.

This surgery can be done by repositioning the soft tissue in the nose or by repairing the septum.

Commissure And Upper Lip Reanimation

The corner of the mouth is referred to as commissure. Facial paralysis may render the muscles of the commissure and upper lip unresponsive, making it hard to smile. With the help of commissure and upper lip reanimation, patients can experience a newfound ability to smile through either nerve or muscle transfer. In this procedure, the signals to the paralyzed facial muscle will be restored by moving a healthy nerve or muscle to the paralyzed area.

Lower Lip Correction

Facial paralysis can result in an asymmetrical smile caused by either hyperactive lower lip movement or weakened muscles that cannot depress the bottom lip. This can be treated by reducing the strength of overactive depressor muscles or reinvigorating weakened depressor muscles to reclaim their function. Muscle weakening can be done by removing muscle fibers from the hyperactive portion or by injecting Botox to reduce its movement. Muscle strengthening can be done by transferring a healthy muscle to the weakened area, which will then be able to contract and relax in response to signals from the brain.

What are the benefits of Facial Palsy Correction?

Facial palsy repair is a life-changing surgery that improves both the look and function of one’s face, as well as restores sensation. By undergoing this type of procedure, people afflicted with facial palsy can significantly improve their overall quality of life.