Facial Reconstructive Surgery Q&A
95%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
21 Reviews
Facial Reconstructive Surgerybefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Facial Reconstructive Surgery Cost: $5,237

Learn about Facial Reconstructive Surgery

79 people and 75 doctors are talking about Facial Reconstructive Surgery

Get Free Email Updates

One Month Since my Nose and Cheek Surgery - Why is my Face Still Numb?

asked 1 year ago by Chesapeake4185 in Chesapeake, VA
Latest answer by Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Question viewed 750 times
Tags: cheeks, nose, female, downtime, numb, recovery

I was shot in the face and had to have surgery to repair the fragments in my cheek and nose. The surgery was almost a month ago but the left side of my face is still numb. How long does the recovery take and when will the numbness go away?

4 answers to One Month Since my Nose and Cheek Surgery - Why is my Face Still Numb?

+1

Numbness after facial surgery

Paresthesia (numbness) is very common after facial trauma and repair.  The extent of recovery depends on the nature of the sensory nerve injury.  Whether the nerve is crushed, severed or simply bruised can all affect the rate and amount of recovery.  The good news is that most patients get sensation back over time.  Donald R. Nunn MD, DDS Plastic Surgeon.
Donald Nunn, MD, DDS

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Facial Numbness after Trauma

Chesapeake Numbness in the face after an injury can often be a challenging issue. From what you have written, it sounds as if you may have injured the infraorbital nerve. This nerve exits the skull from just under the bone of the eye socket and gives feeling to the majority of the middle face.  I have treated many patients with severe fractures of the bones in this area who had numbness in the middle of the face. Many of them had a good return of feeling by 6 months postop. So... more
Travis L. Shaw, MD

Richmond Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Nerve damage, numbness timeline.

The way nerves heal is sort of mysterious.  They often get better, sometimes the improvement happens way down the line.  By the way, congratulations on surviving the injury.   You look pretty good, considering the injury.  Some people believe in electrical muscle stimulation to keep the muscle that the injured nerve serves alive and well.  For the infraorbital nerve, this would be the orbicularis oris, left upper lip.  Ask your doctor about it. more
Ritu Chopra, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Numbness after facial trauma and surgery

Numbness after severe facial trauma like a gunshot wound is not uncommon, and may indeed get better. If you have not, this is certainly something to discuss with your surgeon.  He/she may know details which will help clarify your expectations.  One of the biggest questions is whether or not you had numbness in those areas after the injury, but before the surgical repair.   If you had lost sensation of those areas after the accident but before surgery, the loss is more... more
Michael Bowman, MD

Montgomery Facial Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question