Facial Palsy - weakness of the movements of the face.
Returning a lost smile
Dynamic reconstruction
We offer a broad variety of techniques to return your smile to you. From re-routing a chewing nerve to the nerve that lets you smile or bringing a branch from the normal side to the weak side. Sometimes we can use a combination. Treatments of the facial nerve is customised to each individual patient.
Most of these techniques are intricate and can only be done 6-18 months from onset from your facial paralysis.
Static Reconstruction
These techniques restore symmetry to the face such that the average person passing by or in a restaurant would not be able to tell that one side is paralysed. It restores confidence and makes you less self conscious. The techniques include some types of facelifts to bring up the drooping parts of the face. We also offer using the lining of a muscle in the leg (fascia lata) cut into ribbons to pull the paralysed side to a counteract the drooping.
While it may not restore movement, it is a big help for people with longstanding weakness to the face.
Eyelid
Protecting the eye is a very important part of managing facial nerve palsy. The ability to close the eye is commonly affected causing issues the cornea drying out. At its worst it can cause blindness. We offer a full range of technique to help you be able to blink ie platinum weight insertion.
The lower eyelids get pulled down by gravity which can cause watering of the eye and more exposure. This can be corrected surgically too, by canthoplasty or a lateral tarsal strip.