Miami Herald Logo

Bell’s palsy can be treated in various ways | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Plastic Surgery 101

Bell’s palsy can be treated in various ways

By Carlos Wolf

CWolf@miamiplasticsurgery.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 27, 2016 03:02 PM

Q. One of my friends had Bell’s palsy several years ago. She is doing well but continues to have facial movement asymmetry. She’s very self-conscious and does not want to go out. Is there anything I can tell her that you can do for her?

A. Bell’s palsy is a weakness or paralysis of the facial nerve. This is a diagnosis of exclusion; therefore a doctor must rule out a tumor affecting the facial nerve. The disability may range from mild asymmetry to near complete facial paralysis on one side.

A lot of things that can be done for patients who have Bell’s palsy. The idea is to make the face look more symmetrical. One would think treating the side that has little to no movement is the correct method, but it is not. Treating the normal side to subdue movement will make that side look like the abnormal side and therefore more symmetric. Botox or Dysport are used to weaken the normal muscles so that symmetry is achieved when the patient is smiling or making facial movements. In addition, because the muscles are no longer active, facial volume may be lost and lip asymmetry may be noted as well. Facial volume can be restored with facial fillers including Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, Sculptra and Bellotero. Lip size and asymmetry can be corrected with some of these fillers as well. Very often this treatment is a treatment of trial and error as trying to get absolute symmetry is difficult. Keeping careful records and diagrams helps to do this. Patients can enjoy a very normal life while feeling less self-conscious as their facial movements are more symmetric. Tell your friend she should find a facial plastic surgeon, plastic surgeon or dermatologist who understands facial movement and anatomy.

Dr. Carlos Wolf is a partner in Miami Plastic Surgery and is board certified. Email your questions to him at Cwolf@miamiplasticsurgery.com.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

  Comments  

Videos

The FDA warns against injectable silicone

Florida police officers replace elderly man’s stolen bicycle

View More Video

Trending Stories

Why were former members of the U.S. military driving around Haiti heavily armed?

February 19, 2019 07:49 PM

Cuts are coming for Dolphins’ receivers, but there’s one their new coach raves about

February 19, 2019 12:31 PM

Think Florida is a ‘sinful’ place to live? You’re right, according to this new study

February 20, 2019 01:18 PM

Here’s one pricey player that the Miami Dolphins’ new offensive line coach wants back

February 19, 2019 04:54 PM

Haiti’s economic lifeline has taken a hit. Expedia just made it worse.

February 19, 2019 06:04 PM

Read Next

Woman says one eye is ‘bigger’ than the other. Can plastic surgery help?

Plastic Surgery 101

Woman says one eye is ‘bigger’ than the other. Can plastic surgery help?

By Dr. Carlos Wolf

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 11, 2019 11:37 AM

Patient: One eye is bigger than the other. Will having my eyes done also fix the problem?

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE PLASTIC SURGERY 101

Even in your 80s, you’re not too old for Botox

Plastic Surgery 101

Even in your 80s, you’re not too old for Botox

January 25, 2019 01:00 PM
Before surgery, rhinoplasty patients can ‘try on’ their new noses

Plastic Surgery 101

Before surgery, rhinoplasty patients can ‘try on’ their new noses

January 13, 2019 05:03 PM
Surgical and non-surgical treatments for tired-looking eyes

Plastic Surgery 101

Surgical and non-surgical treatments for tired-looking eyes

December 26, 2018 06:09 PM
‘Non-invasive’ cosmetic procedures have risks and may not be for everyone

Plastic Surgery 101

‘Non-invasive’ cosmetic procedures have risks and may not be for everyone

December 17, 2018 11:10 AM
Cancer patient, 33, feeling ‘very old.’ Any safe skincare suggestions?

Plastic Surgery 101

Cancer patient, 33, feeling ‘very old.’ Any safe skincare suggestions?

December 03, 2018 12:42 PM
Before plastic surgery or a procedure, know your practitioner’s credentials

Plastic Surgery 101

Before plastic surgery or a procedure, know your practitioner’s credentials

November 19, 2018 01:36 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story