plastic surgery

[Karen]

I have had the 12/7 nerve jump done and at rest my face looks ok except for the slight droop at the corner of my mouth.  Has anyone had anything done for that?  I missed hearing Tessa at the symposium talk about facial plastic surgery.  Don't really want another surgery but I don't like the droop either!!!  Karen  P.S my surgery was almost 6 years ago.

[moe]

Hi Karen,
I am almost 2 years post 12/7 nerve jump and also have that droop at the corner of my mouth. I think "All it needs is a little tweek!"  (whatever that entails-major surgery I'm sure)

I am still waiting for more results from the 12/7 surgery and have started acupuncture to help "move" things along.

I have not looked into plastic surgery concerning the droop. My 12/7 surgeon doesn't want to do any more surgery at this time.

How long did you continue to see progress from your 12/7? I know Lori had good results.
I was told by  my surgeon that it can take up to 18 months to just start seeing movement.  I have muscle tone in the upper cheek, but the lip, side of the mouth and lower cheek are flat. Acupuncture is actually helping bring more tone (right now to the cheek area) and he said he could get 50 % movement back. That would be miraculous in my mind! So I'm holding off on pursuing more surgery until I see what the result of the acupuncture is.

I would like to have just a symmetrical smile. I'm still lopsided. Do you have a symmetrical smile?
Thanks- more questions for you that advice.Sorry!
So yea, there should be some sort of plastic surgery technique out there...
Maureen
Maureen

[nancyann]

Hi Karen:  I didn't have the 7/12 jump or other nerve grafts for my paralysis.  I had the T3 (Temporalis Tendon Transfer), which does get rid of the 'droop'
Unfortunately you'd have to go through the surgery.   You could just have a 'sling' procedure (not sure of the actual name).  It's not as involved as the T3,
but does get rid of the droop.  There are before/after pictures of my T3 procedure (plus I needed 2 sling procedures since my paralysis is so severe) on this
Facial Issues, topic: Post Temporalis Tendon Transfer.
I'd definitely look into the 'sling' procedure since it's just the 'droop' you need fixed.

Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[lori67]

Hi Karen.

I did have good results from the 7/12 so far.  I'm one year post-op, so I'm hoping for a bit more improvement.  I do still have that droop at the corner of my mouth though and I'd like to get rid of that.

My doctor did mention that if that doesn't improve, there are other procedures that can help get rid of the droop.  We didn't really go into it all, but he did mention the sling that Nancy referred to.  I don't know any of the details of it, but I'm sure your doctor could fill you in on how it works.

Lori

[saralynn143]

Hi Karen

I did a google search for "facial paralysis surgery" and came up with tons of hits. Here is one I think you might like to look through: http://www.facialparalysisinstitute.com/

I do not know anything about the surgeon. But if you pull down the "treatment" menu, there are overviews of many different procedures, including the sling and the temporalis transfer that both Kaybo and nancyann had.

Wishing you all the best,
Sara

[nancyann]

Sara:  I did discuss treatment with Dr. Azizzadeh (via email) prior to hearing about Dr. Byrne.  I chose Dr. Byrne b/c he's one of the pioneers of the T3.
I also was more impressed with his before/after pictures (+ he's on the east coast, closer to home).   I thank God for all doctors who
work in the realm of facial paralysis !
Always good thoughts,  Nancy

[moe]

Sara,
I enjoyed the site. Thanks
Maureen

[Kathleen_Mc]

Karen: my doc. referred to what I had done as a fashia sling, fascia was taken from my leg  and used to " hook up " my face. This provided more tone at rest to the corner of my mouth.
Kathleen