Facial Paralysis Surgery

 

693. Facial Paralysis Surgery

Facial paralysis surgery refers to procedures that restore balance and expression to the face after facial nerve damage, often affecting one side. The facial nerve (7th cranial nerve) controls facial muscles, so when it is injured, facial asymmetry or loss of movement can occur.

There are two main approaches:
Static reconstruction improves symmetry by lifting sagging tissue, inserting weights into the upper eyelid to help it close, reshaping drooping eyes (canthoplasty), and lifting a drooping mouth corner using materials like threads or fascia. These methods restore balance but not movement.

Dynamic reconstruction restores movement. It includes:

• Nerve grafting: Connecting branches from the healthy facial nerve to the paralyzed side (cross-facial nerve graft), or using nerves like the hypoglossal (tongue) or masseter (chewing) nerve to help regain a smile.

• Free muscle transfer: Transplanting muscles like the gracilis to the face, connecting them to nerves and vessels, allowing them to move again.

• Muscle transfer: Transposing nearby muscles like the temporalis to the mouth area, enabling a smile by clenching teeth. This is useful for older patients or when microvascular surgery isn’t possible.

But what causes facial paralysis?
Often it's a mix of factors: weakened muscles from one-sided habits, poor sleep, processed food, chronic lymphatic congestion, viral infections, or even sudden weather changes affecting facial nerve blood flow.

When negativity lingers too long and meets the right (or wrong) conditions, facial paralysis may result.
But if we shift our mindset—see life more positively and fill each day with happiness—we can protect our expressions and spirit.

Facial paralysis surgery: restoring expressions lost from a twisted mind and tense life.
– 693mm Growth Pine Tree 🌲