what is facial paralysis?

 Facial paralysis is the inability to move the muscles on one or both sides of the face due to nerve damage

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. It can result from nerve damage due to congenital (present at birth) conditions, trauma or disease, such as stroke, brain tumor or Bell’s palsy

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. Bell's palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis that usually resolves on its own and causes no complications

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Causes

The cause of Bell's palsy is not known. It is thought that it may be due to inflammation that is directed by the body's immune system against the nerve controlling movement of the face. Bell's palsy is sometimes associated with diabetes, high blood pressure, injury, toxins, Lyme disease, Guillain-Barré syndrome, sarcoidosis, myasthenia gravis, and multiple sclerosis

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. Facial nerve damage can occur for several reasons, including infection, trauma, or stroke. It can also occur without a known cause, which is referred to as Bell’s palsy

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Diagnosis

Diagnosis involves a consultation with a doctor, a complete physical exam, and imaging studies of the brain and face. Your doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging tests: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan to rule out brain tumors, strokes, and infections

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. There's no specific test for Bell's palsy. Your health care provider will look at your face and ask you to move your facial muscles by closing your eyes, lifting your brow, showing your teeth, and frowning, among other movements. Other conditions — such as a stroke, infections, Lyme disease, inflammatory conditions, and tumors — can cause facial muscle weakness that mimics Bell's palsy. If the cause of your symptoms isn't clear, your health care provider may recommend other tests, including electromyography (EMG) and imaging scans

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Treatment

Paralysis of the face may be temporary or permanent. The facial plastic surgery team determines the best treatment based on how long the paralysis has been present, the cause, and whether it is a complete paralysis or an incomplete (or partial) paralysis. Facial paralysis surgery is also called facial reanimation surgery. A facial plastic surgeon can use all or parts of muscles, nerves, or both from other parts of the body to restore motion to the face

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Emotional Impact

Facial palsy is a form of facial disfigurement, and patients can experience severe psychological and social problems. People with facial palsy often report psychosocial difficulties, including withdrawal from social activities, anxiety, negative body image, and low mood. They may also suffer some level of anxiety or depression, which does not necessarily relate to the degree of facial paralysis. One way that people cope with feeling anxious is to become socially withdrawn. In the short term, this can help them feel less anxious, but in the longer term, this can lead to them feeling isolated. Feeling unable to relax and laugh without being stared at makes a huge impact on people’s lives

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Conclusion

Facial paralysis is the inability to move the muscles on one or both sides of the face due to nerve damage. It can result from nerve damage due to congenital (present at birth) conditions, trauma, or disease, such as stroke, brain tumor, or Bell’s palsy. Diagnosis involves a consultation with a doctor, a complete physical exam, and imaging studies of the brain and face. Treatment depends on how long the paralysis has been present, the cause, and whether it is a complete paralysis or an incomplete (or partial) paralysis. People with facial palsy often report psychosocial difficulties, including withdrawal from social activities, anxiety, negative body image, and low mood.