Facial Paralysis

Facial paralysis can result from trauma, infection, birth trauma or disease, such as Bell’s Palsy (which accounts for 75% of facial paralysis cases).  Whatever the cause and age at which it occurs, the consequences can be devastating, depending upon the level of dysfunction, which can range from mild to total paralysis.  Adverse side effects include paralysis, drooling, excessive tearing, lack of tears, lower eyelid droop, facial drooping, eye closure difficulty, biting the inside of the mouth and nasal obstruction.  Dr. Cole treats facial paralysis using several treatment types that safely and effectively help to minimize the adverse affects caused by facial nerve damage.

BENEFITS OF TREATMENT FOR FACIAL PARALYSIS:

• Facial paralysis treatments address several areas of correction
• Facial paralysis treatments can reduce excess eye tearing
• Facial paralysis treatments can correct droopy lower eyelids
• Facial paralysis treatments can correct upper lid closure problems
• Facial paralysis treatments can correct drooling & inside mouth biting
• Facial paralysis treatments can help reanimate the lower facial area
• Facial paralysis treatment can raise the lower lid for better closure

TREATMENTS FOR FACIAL PARALYSIS:

GOLD EYELID WEIGHTS
The insertion of gold weight to the upper eyelid is used to help it close. This is a surgical procedure used to “implant” the appropriate weight into the upper eyelid, which then works along with the earth’s gravity to gently pull your eye closed when your muscles relax. 

EYELID WEIGHT PROCEDURE
This is performed as an outpatient procedure. Dr. Cole will make a small incision in your eyelid, just above the eyelashes, create a pocket and insert the implant. The weight is secured with sutures and the incision is closed. After recovery you should be able to blink normally and open and close your eyelid.

Suture Groove™ Gold Eyelid Weights are used to treat lagopthalmos – the inability to close, or poor closure, of the upper eyelid.  These 99.99% pure gold weights have been in use for over 30 years. Pure gold is biologically stable and inert, never breaks down and can always be removed if necessary.

LOWER LID ECTROPION REPAIR
Lower lid Ectropion repair is surgically performed to raise the lower lid position for better closure and less corneal exposure. Ectropion is the medical term used to describe the sagging and turning outward of the lower eyelid and eyelashes.  The margins of the eyelid and the eyelashes evert (turn outward).  This results in rubbing that typically causes excessive tearing, crusting of the eyelid, mucus discharge and irritation of the eye. During blinking 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.

FACIAL REANIMATION PROCEDURES
Suspending the nasolabial area and sometimes the lower face regions will decrease adverse side effects of paralysis such as drooling, biting the inside of the mouth and nasal alar closure.

BROWLIFT
A Browlift raises the brow to eliminate visual obstruction caused by drooping brows. This is typically performed under general laryngeal mask anesthesia.  Using an endoscope, Dr. Cole works through half-inch incisions which create less scarring.  The endoscope is a tiny fiber optic lens attached to a camera, connected to a monitor screen.  This allows Dr. Cole to use tiny instruments internally to stabilize the brows to their original position (or a more desirable one).  Recovery is minimal with less numbness, swelling and bruising than is experienced with older Browlift techniques. 

BOARD CERTIFICATION

Dr. Cole is a quadruple board certified surgeon which means he has met the rigorous high standards and training requirements of four medical boards.  This involved several years more of specialized training and experience in all four areas – in addition to medical school, internships, residencies, fellowship training and vast experience. Board certification does not guarantee a certain outcome, but it does ensure specialized training skill and expertise far beyond the norm.
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