Facial palsy services

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Facial palsy services

We offer treatments for the following conditions:

Newly diagnosed facial palsy in adults, newborns and children.
Recurring facial palsy
Longstanding facial palsy with synkinesis, asymmetry and other problematic symptoms
Facial dystonia.

How to refer

We treat patients from throughout our local catchment area, as well as from other regions of the UK through GP referrals and referrals from other specialist centres.

Treatments for facial palsy

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is an important treatment for facial palsy. Your physiotherapist will complete a thorough assessment of your condition and individual presentation and work with you to produce a personalised treatment plan. They will monitor your progress using photographs and certified outcome measures which will include you completing some questionnaires.

Physiotherapists work with you to improve facial symmetry, reduce muscle tightness and pain, improve function, and discuss management strategies. Treatment normally includes massage, stretching, exercises, education and synkinesis management.

Botox

Botox is a drug which weakens and/or paralyses muscles.

Used alongside physiotherapy as an extra, it can be injected into muscles which have become tight or overactive.

Sometimes we inject the unaffected side to improve symmetry – for example if you are unable to raise the eyebrow on one side, we may inject the other side to reduce the effect of this and improve symmetry.

Botox takes about up to two weeks to see an effect.

Surgery

There are a range of reconstructive surgical operations for the correction of facial palsy.

As all cases of the condition vary, each surgical intervention is tailored very specifically to a patient’s needs. For example, surgery can help with eyelid closure by inserting a small gold weight or correcting the position of the eyelid, or can help with mouth movements by transferring muscle from elsewhere in the body to the face, to improve function.

Surgery will be discussed in outpatient clinic initially, and if required can take place at Broomfield Hospital.