Facial Paralysis Is A Treatable Condition
The facial muscles that control facial expression are subcutaneous, or just under the skin. These facial muscles (also called mimetic muscles) are innervated or ‘supplied’ by the facial nerve. The loss of facial innervation often results in a partial loss of facial control, or facial paralysis (the inability to smile or move the face). This condition can be congenital, as some are born with this problem) or the result of a surgical procedure such as tumor removal, loss of innervation due to facial trauma, or as a result of a viral infections, such as Bells Palsy.
There are plastic surgeons that have a special interest in treating patients with this condition. Several possible treatment options exist. These options include nerve grafting techniques and micro-vascular muscle transfer procedures.