Frequently asked questions about Facial Paralysis

Facial paralysis appears when the facial nerve responsible for sending signals to the muscles that provide movement and expressions for the face is damaged. Among other functional deficits, this leads to an inability to close the eye and raise the eyebrow on the affected side, as well as to eat, speak, smile or breathe through the nose.  

The most common symptoms are difficulty moving your face, such as closing your eyes, raising your eyebrows, smiling, sealing the lips, blowing and chewing. 

There can be many causes: a viral infection, surgery in the facial region, parotid gland, ear region or on the brain, a trauma or a wound on the face or the cause can be unknown. 

The evolution of facial paralysis is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is characterised by muscle weakness in the middle of the face (flaccid or hypotonic phase); phase 2 sees mobility improve (reinnervation-recovery phase); and phase 3 produces involuntary, unconscious movements (synkinesis). 

A specialist health professional will conduct a clinical diagnosis and individually assesses each case to identify the possible causes.  

Treatment is multidisciplinary. It means that depending on the causes and degree of paralysis, the treatment may be a drug-based treatment, rehabilitation, using neuromodulators or surgical reconstruction of either the facial nerve or the dynamic or static situation of the face.  

Generally, the disease evolves without pain. 

It depends on its cause and the degree of impact in each case.  

Depending on the cause, there is a greater risk of recurrence if it has occurred spontaneously before, compared to those people who have not had any facial paralysis.  

Facial paralysis therapy examples are taking anti-inflammatory or antiviral medications, rehabilitation as well as facial or facial nerve surgery. 

Surgical treatment for paralysis is uncommon, as the first line of treatment is rehabilitation.  

This treatment is indicated when the affected nerve can be repaired or a new electrical impulse can be provided to the damaged nerve from other nerves in the craniofacial region.  

Surgical treatment can also be performed to improve the static and dynamic situation of the face with facial suspension surgery, tension threads or gold weight implants to lift the eyelid or eyebrow of the affected eye. 

Surgery can also improve poor eye closure when there is corneal damage, which in turn also helps decrease facial asymmetry. 

Since there are numerous surgical techniques, recovery depends on the treatment given. Postoperative pain is controlled with painkillers and the inflammation subsides in about 2-3 weeks. 

It is difficult to prevent it when the cause is unknown. 

In cases where there may be a surgical reason, each case should be evaluated so that the multidisciplinary surgical and medical teams that treat facial paralysis can jointly prevent it or treat it early.