Facial paralysis occurs when nerve damage prevents you from being able to make facial movements. This condition can affect one, or both sides of the face. Facial paralysis can come on suddenly or occur gradually. It could be a short-term condition or one that lasts for a long period of time.
Common causes of facial paralysis are:
- Infection or inflammation of the facial nerve
- Trauma to the head, skull fracture or injury to the face
- A tumor on the head or neck
- Middle ear infection or other ear damage
- Lyme disease: a bacterial disease that humans get from being bit by a tick
- Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome: a viral reactivation that affects the facial nerve
- Autoimmune diseases: for example, multiple sclerosis and Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Congenital syndromes, such as Mobius syndrome and Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome which cause facial paralysis at birth.
- An injury to the fetus during birth can also cause temporary facial paralysis. Babies usually make a complete recovery without requiring any treatment.
- A stroke: Damage to the brain cells that control the muscles in the face get damaged.
- Bell’s Palsy: A condition which causes inflammation of the facial nerve. Typically, the muscles on one side of the face droop. No one knows exactly what causes Bell’s Palsy but it’s temporary and usually clears up within six months without being treated.
Treating Facial Paralysis
For those conditions that don’t improve on their own, surgical procedures to correct facial paralysis exist. To find out which treatment is right for you come and see Dr. Stong, our facial plastic surgeon in Atlanta. We can help you get back to looking like you again. Call today!
