Facial reanimation, also known as smile surgery, corrects paralysis caused by nerve damage. You may have suffered such damage due to an accident, from an illness such as Bell’s palsy, or as a result of a genetic condition.
Regardless of why you need facial reanimation surgery, it can change your life. The surgery uses nerves and muscles donated from the face and other parts of your body to correct paralysis that causes irregular expressions.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Elliott H. Rose, MD of The Aesthetic Surgery Center performs this remarkable, revolutionary procedure in New York City. The surgery is only available in a few dozen medical centers across the country -- and it can be life-changing.
You may experience facial nerve damage due to a car or motorcycle accident in which you crash onto your face. It’s also associated with illness, specifically Bell’s palsy, which can impact up to 40,000 people in the United States every year.
You may have facial issues as a result of cancer, such as an acoustic neuroma, a type of tumor that affects the hearing and nerves that control your balance. Some children may be born with facial paralysis, too.
The surgery can correct abnormal-looking smiles, drooping eyelids, or imbalances in facial features caused by impotent nerves.
When you come in for a consultation, Dr. Rose performs a comprehensive exam of your facial paralysis. He’ll also do nerve conduction studies to determine the extent of your nerve damage and do evaluations on the function of your eyes and speech.
Facial reanimation surgery doesn’t cure the condition or resolve the injury that has caused your irregular smile. However, it can give you a look that appears more natural, symmetrical, and brighter. The surgery can get you to a place where people don’t automatically notice your irregularities – rather they see you.
The effects aren’t just physical, either. When you can smile more naturally, you may feel less self-conscious. You don’t have to avoid social settings because you’re afraid of how people will perceive your looks, speech, and potential drooling due to weak facial muscles.
Some people who’ve had nerve damage to their face may have trouble showing normal emotion, too. Facial reanimation restores the ability to emote as others do. Instead of people perceiving your smile as a frown or anger, your smile expresses the cheer and happiness you want it to.
Once Dr. Rose determines you’re a good candidate for facial reanimation, he takes detailed photographs and performs computerized imaging to create a “blueprint” for your facial reanimation. Through these techniques, you can see what your face will look like after surgery.
He looks at your normal conversation and movement patterns to ensure he creates a look that matches your mannerisms and gestures.
If you’ve suffered facial paralysis due to illness, injury, or genetics, you have options. There’s no need to avoid social contact because you’re self-conscious. Dr. Rose has helped many men, women, and children achieve a more natural, animated smile. Call our office or schedule your first consultation online to learn if you’re a candidate for this life-altering surgery.
