Facial Paralysis

What is Facial Paralysis?

Facial paralysis is when a person can no longer move some or all of the muscles on one or both sides of the face. The most common cause of facial paralysis is the neurological disorder Bell's palsy. Facial paralysis can happen when the facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) is damaged or not functioning properly. When it's impaired, one side of the face may become weak or paralyzed, making it difficult to smile, close the eye, or show facial expressions.

What Causes Facial Paralysis?

Facial paralysis can have several causes, including:

Viral infection (e.g. Lyme disease)
Bell's palsy, a common form of facial nerve palsy
Trauma to the head or skull
Stroke 
Head, neck or brain tumor
Sarcoidosis
Autoimmune conditions
Trauma during birth

What Are the Symptoms of Facial Paralysis?

Symptoms often appear suddenly and may include:

Inability to move one side of the face (the paralyzed side of the face)
Drooping of the mouth or eyelid
Loss of facial expressions
Excessive tearing or dry eye
Difficulty speaking, eating, or drinking

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.

UR Medicine's Treatments for Facial Paralysis

Diagnosis

Your provider will begin with a physical exam and review of your medical history. Tests may include:

Blood tests to identify infections or underlying conditions
Imaging such as CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to evaluate nerve damage
Electromyography (EMG) to assess nerve and muscle function

These tools help determine the extent of damage to the facial nerve and guide treatment.

Treatment

Treatment will be determined based on the cause and severity of your facial paralysis, and may include:

Medications, such as corticosteroids, to reduce inflammation
Antiviral drugs, if a viral infection is suspected
Physical therapy to restore facial movement and prevent muscle stiffness
Eye care to protect the eye on the affected side
Speech therapy to help you regain your speech and swallow function
Neuromuscular Facial Retraining to retrain facial muscles for movement and expression
Surgery, including:
- Nerve grafting to restore nerve function
- Facial reanimation surgery to improve symmetry and expression

Our multidisciplinary team works together to create a personalized treatment plan.

What Sets Us Apart?

UR Medicine Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, part of UR Medicine Otolaryngology, offers comprehensive facial and neck care that includes both reconstructive and aesthetic services. Reconstructive procedures include rhinoplasty and other techniques for nasal breathing and nasal deformity, facial reanimation for patients with facial paralysis, reconstructive surgery following skin cancer removal, scar revision, as well as microvascular free-tissue transfer and repair of maxillofacial trauma.

Our talented physicians and caring support staff treat every patient with the highest respect, care, and attentiveness. Our surgeons are highly experienced and are trained to perform the most complex reconstructive surgical procedures while working collaboratively with other physicians to treat each individual patient. In addition, our physicians are also highly regarded educators and researchers and provide topnotch education and mentoring to the next generation of plastic surgeons.

Our Speech-Language Pathologists (SLP) have specialty training and expertise in evaluating and treating individuals with facial paralysis, paresis or synkinesis due to facial nerve injury.