Bell's palsy is characterized by paralysis on one side of the face and affects over 40,000 people each year. This disorder is caused by swelling of the seventh cranial nerve in the face. Bell’s palsy may come and go, or it might never go away. At the onset of symptoms a physician might prescribe steroids, antivirals, and anti-inflammatories to relieve symptoms. Other treatments target protecting the eye from drying. For patients who don’t improve, surgery may be indicated, although it may not completely restore function and normal appearance. Modern surgical procedures aim to reanimate the face, correct facial distortion, and restore mouth and eye functions. One procedure involves relocating healthy muscle and nerve tissue from one part of the face to another. Facial reanimation surgery requires an expert. When choosing a plastic surgeon for this procedure, make sure you feel confident he or she has enough expertise in this area to provide you satisfactory results.
