FACIAL NERVE REANIMATION

REPAIRING FACIAL PARALYSIS

Facial paralysis is directly linked to nerve damage and reduced facial muscle tone and function. If left untreated for too long, facial paralysis causes facial sagging and functional problems such as drooping at the corner of the mouth with uncontrollable drooling, speech difficulty, chronic eye irritation, eye infections and inability to close the eyes. Some of the known causes include: trauma, surgery, genetics, malignant tumors and Bell’s Palsy which causes 75% of facial paralysis cases.

Regardless of the cause, facial paralysis can be devastating. It affects function, appearance and emotional health. Treatments today are more advanced and refined to achieve wonderful, natural looking results when performed by a well-trained, skilled, qualified facial plastic surgeon.

BENEFITS OF FACIAL NERVE REANIMATION
• Correction involves specialized techniques & procedures
• Muscle tone & function, drooping & drooling, eyelid function, self confidence & more can be corrected
• Facial nerve reanimation independently deals with both the eye and the lower 1/3 of the face
• Corrects aesthetic & functional paralysis related problems
• Various treatments address several facial areas of correction
• Dr. Bloom has specialized knowledge, training, experience & skill to perform facial nerve reanimation procedures

IS FACIAL NERVE REANIMATION RIGHT FOR YOU?
If you are suffering with any or all of the conditions mentioned above and you have a strong desire to correct those problems, Dr. Bloom can perform your procedure(s) and achieve outstanding results. An individualized treatment plan will be designed to address your specific concerns and goals. You should be in otherwise good health and have realistic expectations.

FACIAL NERVE REANIMATION …WHAT’S INVOVLED…HOW IT’S DONE
Here’s what you need to know:
1. There are 5 degrees of nerve damage… Some levels of nerve damage are best treated with observation, while others can be surgically treated. Of the nerve injuries that are amenable to surgery, these require the skill of specially trained surgeons to safely achieve desirable outcomes.
2. Timing is critical…In some situations, the sooner the repair is done the better the results will be. In other situations, prolonged paralysis may lead to some procedures over other options. When trauma is a factor, waiting may be necessary, but no longer than 3 days should elapse before exploration or further testing occurs, in order to determine nerve continuity.
3. Age…better results are usually seen quicker with younger people. Older people typically experience slower nerve reanimation

SURGICAL NERVE REPAIR PROCEDURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
Direct Nerve Repair restores spontaneous emotional facial function and is the method of choice if at all possible. This restores nerve continuity (coaptation of 2 nerve ends) as long as the nerve length permits.

Cable Nerve Grafting is a technique used when the length of the available facial nerve is inadequate. By borrowing nerves from another area of the body, such as the neck or leg, the graft restores function to the damaged facial nerve. Numbness in the donor area may result.

Nerve Substitution is used when the first two methods are not appropriate. By connecting branches of facial nerves on the normal side of the face to those on the damaged side…function can be restored. This may result in weakness on the donor side. This is usually a positive since it helps create improved facial symmetry.

Other Facial Reanimation Treatments

GOLD EYELID WEIGHTS
These are surgical implants into the upper eyelid to help it close. It works with the help of gravity to gently pull your eye closed when your muscles relax. This does not affect normal eye movement or function.

LOWER EYELID ECTROPION REPAIR
Lower lid ectropion repair is a surgery to raise the lower eyelid position for better closure and less corneal exposure. Ectropion means lid sagging and turning outward of the lower eyelid and eyelashes. This results in rubbing that causes excessive tearing, crusting of the eyelid, mucous discharge and eye irritation. During the blinking process, the eyelids normally sweep across the surface of the cornea. Tearing occurs because the eyelids are not able to wipe the surface of the cornea properly to pump the tears into the tear duct.

ENDOSCOPIC BROWLIFT
Surgically raises the brow to eliminate the visual obstruction caused by drooping brows. Dr. Bloom works through half-inch incisions hidden in the hairline to stabilize the brows and/or raise them to a more desirable position. The use of smaller, refined instruments reduces recovery time with less swelling, bruising and numbness than with older browlift techniques.

FACIAL SLINGS
Slings can be used to suspend different areas and these can be Alloderm, Gore-Tex or fascia lata grafts taken from the leg.

MIDFACE LIFT & FACELIFT
Facelifts tighten the paralyzed muscles and restore symmetry to the face and neck. It can lift droopy cheeks, correct a crooked mouth and improve the neck. Platysmaplasty may be needed to correct facial tightness caused by the diverted nerve fibers and the cross talk between these fibers and midface nerves.

BOTOX INJECTIONS
Dr. Bloom may also use Botox when needed to help relax muscles in certain areas and restore facial symmetry and balance.

Did you Know?

Dr. Bloom has authored over 20 journal articles and book chapters, and has given numerous presentations at national and international conferences. Dr.Bloom continues to be academically involved with teaching residents, and performing research studies and clinical trials in the area of facial plastic & reconstructive surgery. Additionally, he is an active member of both the American Academy of Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

Dr. Bloom on Nerve Reanimation

Facial Nerve Reanimation involves highly specialized techniques to correct facial paralysis including: muscle tone & function, facial drooping, drooling, eyelid function, self-confidence, etc.

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