Yes Together we can plan the new you!

Treatment
Initial treatment of facial palsy is usually medication which may include steroids for few weeks and exercises and muscle stimulation .For eyes to avoid damage to the cornea, in few cases eye lids may have to sutured together (tasorraphy) but in long standing cases who want to have correction for eyelid closure a temperalias muscle transfer is done which can close thelid with effort and eye opening becomes symmetrical.

Patients who do not want to go for this surgery a simple technique of lid loading in which a Gold implant is used. 2-3 gm 24 ct Gold plate is fixed into the upper eye lid which avoids the excessive opening of the eye and both eyes look symmetrical.

The second most important disability which a patient of facial palsy has is inability to smile due to paralysis of the muscles. Patients who do not recover by medical treatment, exercise and electrical stimulation need surgery.

Two types of surgical options are available.

1 Static Correction
In this surgery temprolis muscle or barbed threads are used to support the cheek musclesand skin. Patients will apparently look normal but still will not be able to smile .This method is preferred for old people.

2 Dynamic Correction
For young individuals a dynamic muscle transfer is recommended. It is a two stage operation in Fist stage a nerve is harnessed from the leg and anastomosed to a branch of facial nerve of the normal side and the second end is placed in the nasolabial fold of the affected side . Normal nerve grows in to this nerve graft in 4-6 months and than a second operation is performed .

In second operation a part of grasslis muscle from thigh is removed with its nerve, artery and vein. This muscle is placed in to the affected side by making a cut at the cheek just near the ear which is usually not visible.

The artery and vein is connected to the facial artery and vein while the nerve of muscle is connected to the already transplanted nerve. This muscle starts function after 4-6 months of transplant and its function improves with time since it is supplied by the normal facial nerve from the opposite side it works like a normal muscle . Patients can have a good and satisfactory smile.