Facial Paralysis

Facial expressions are essential for conveying our emotions and crucial for effective communication at work and with those we love. Injuries and dysfunction of the facial nerve can have devastating effects not only on our ability to communicate, but also our physical appearance, and our self-image. The facial rehabilitation program helps patient re-learn to use their facial muscles after injury to their facial nerve. We use a variety of tools to evaluate and assess each patient and craft individualized treatment programs. A combination of therapeutic techniques is used to address each person’s movement patterns and retrain their brain to create more normal patterns of expression. Our team is a multidisciplinary group of facial plastic surgeons, neurotologists, occupational therapists, physiatrists (rehabilitation medicine doctors), neurosurgeons, and psychologists dedicated to improving the facial function of our patients. Our team of trained professionals is extremely knowledgeable in all muscles of the face, the uniqueness of the facial nerve, and the challenges that accompany facial nerve paralysis.

Some of the conditions we treat include:

• Bell’s palsy
• Lyme disease
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome
• Prior surgeries (cancer, salivary gland, or ear) resulting in facial nerve damage
• Acoustic neuroma
• Synkinesis
• Facial Spasm
• Congenital facial paralysis
• Trauma (skull fractures, facial lacerations)