Treatment that returns the smile to patients with facial paralysis

• April 24, 2024

The Facial paralysis  (PF) alters muscle function by triggering various alterations functional, psychological, emotional, aesthetic and social.

Approximately one third of cases have a cause identifiable, and the remaining 2 thirds are idiopathic .

Unfortunately, from 20 to 30% of patients remain with some degree of weakness or paralysis forever.

In the FP, the muscles of the affected side present loss of frontal wrinkles, disappearance of the nasolabial fold, anddepression of the eyebrow and the angle of the mouth .

This causes a decrease in the quality of life when it causes problems functional and aesthetic, which are accentuated when talking and smile , causing psychological effects like loss of confidence .

Alternative

There are multiple causes and treatments surgical and non-surgical to treat the paralyzed side, including the use of botulinum toxin, viable alternative when there are sequelae such as synkinesis, hypertonia or hemifacial spasm. On the unaffected side it is also used to create aesthetic and functional symmetry, static and dynamic.

The Botulinum toxin is a drug that has as mechanism of action the blockade of the release of acetylcholine, which is the neurotransmitter that stimulates the contraction of smooth and striated muscle.

Tested case

The treatment showed its effectiveness in a male patient with right idiopathic facial paralysis of two months evolution, who had minimal response to physical therapy treatments, transcutaneous electrostimulation and low intensity laser.