Facial Paralysis

Facial paralysis involves a loss of voluntary muscle movement within the face, which may occur as a result of stroke, brain tumor, infection, trauma, Bell’s palsy or other factors.

The facial nerve stretches down each side of the face and allows us to laugh, cry, smile or frown when functioning properly.

Patients with facial paralysis may experience symptoms such as:

• Drooping of the face
• Difficulty making facial expressions
• Twitching
• Headache
• Loss of taste

Facial Paralysis Treatment

Treatment for facial paralysis depends on the underlying cause of the condition, but may include medication, physical therapy or surgery to relieve pressure on the facial nerve or to repair a severely damaged facial nerve. It is important to maintain the health of the eye when the facial nerve is paralyzed. This can be done by wearing protective glasses or patches and using drops to keep the eye moisturized.