I have nerve damage on my left side of my upper lip when I talk and when I smile. When you look at me at rest I look perfectly fine. My main problem is when I speak, the right side of my mouth works perfectly fine, but the left side still moves but not as much as the right looking like I talk out of the side of my mouth. I had a MACS lift, brow lift, buccal fat removal on the left cheek. My PS has said that he has never seen this and is sending me to a Neurologist. Is this permanent?
Answer: Nerve Damage After MACS Facelift 15 Months Ago?
Nerves can recover for up to 2 years after injury, but, after 15 months, recovery is less likely. Going to a neurologist may be helpful. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Nerve Damage After MACS Facelift 15 Months Ago?
Nerves can recover for up to 2 years after injury, but, after 15 months, recovery is less likely. Going to a neurologist may be helpful. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Facelift Nerve Damage Hi @GJColley, Thanks for your question. I suspect you have nerve damage to the left buccal and possibly zygomatic branches of the facial nerve. At this point you should have improved or at the least been assessed or followed for improvement. Possibly BOTOX on the right to make it more symmetric while you recover. The Buccal Branches are the most commonly injured nerve branches during a Facelift but they are usually the least likely to be noticed because there are so many Buccal branches that they compensate for one another. The Buccal Branches supply motor control to many muscles including those for flaring the nostrils (Nasalis Muscle), and lifting the upper lip (Levator Labii Superioris). There is still hope for recovery because once a nerve branch is cut, the muscle it supplies can last 18 months before it can no longer be salvaged. And the nerve branches regenerate at an inch a month. There is still hope for you to recover and I would seek out a plastic surgeon with experience in Peripheral Nerve Surgery to evaluate you and walk you through your options. Best Wishes, K. Chopra, M.D. Johns Hopkins Trained Plastic Surgeon Face, Body and Breast Expert
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CONTACT NOW Answer: Facelift Nerve Damage Hi @GJColley, Thanks for your question. I suspect you have nerve damage to the left buccal and possibly zygomatic branches of the facial nerve. At this point you should have improved or at the least been assessed or followed for improvement. Possibly BOTOX on the right to make it more symmetric while you recover. The Buccal Branches are the most commonly injured nerve branches during a Facelift but they are usually the least likely to be noticed because there are so many Buccal branches that they compensate for one another. The Buccal Branches supply motor control to many muscles including those for flaring the nostrils (Nasalis Muscle), and lifting the upper lip (Levator Labii Superioris). There is still hope for recovery because once a nerve branch is cut, the muscle it supplies can last 18 months before it can no longer be salvaged. And the nerve branches regenerate at an inch a month. There is still hope for you to recover and I would seek out a plastic surgeon with experience in Peripheral Nerve Surgery to evaluate you and walk you through your options. Best Wishes, K. Chopra, M.D. Johns Hopkins Trained Plastic Surgeon Face, Body and Breast Expert
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May 26, 2013
Answer: Facial nerve damage following facelift surgery.
Facial weakness following facelift surgery is in the vast majority of cases temporary and results from bruising of the nerve branches. Recovery usually and occurs within 3 months and very little recovery occurs after 12 months although some improvement can still occur. A neurology assessment can help determine if any further recovery is likely with the use of motor nerve testing.
Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC, FACS.
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CONTACT NOW May 26, 2013
Answer: Facial nerve damage following facelift surgery.
Facial weakness following facelift surgery is in the vast majority of cases temporary and results from bruising of the nerve branches. Recovery usually and occurs within 3 months and very little recovery occurs after 12 months although some improvement can still occur. A neurology assessment can help determine if any further recovery is likely with the use of motor nerve testing.
Mario J. Imola, MD, DDS, FRCSC, FACS.
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October 1, 2015
Answer: Buccal branch of the facial nerve injury typically recovers
It sounds like you sustained an injury to the buccal branch of the facial nerve, which is closely associated with the buccal fat pad. There is substantial 'cross over' between the buccal branch and the other adjacent facial nerve branches - so its likely that you'll recover function of the muscles that this nerve controls - but this can take a long time - years in some cases.
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Answer: Buccal branch of the facial nerve injury typically recovers
It sounds like you sustained an injury to the buccal branch of the facial nerve, which is closely associated with the buccal fat pad. There is substantial 'cross over' between the buccal branch and the other adjacent facial nerve branches - so its likely that you'll recover function of the muscles that this nerve controls - but this can take a long time - years in some cases.
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April 4, 2013
Answer: Nerve Damage After Facelift
Unfortunately, it sounds like that you have an injury to the Buccal branch of your facial nerve on the left. Since it has been 15 months it is more likely that this is permanent. In my opinion there si not much an Nerurologist can offer at this point.
Dr. ES
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Answer: Nerve Damage After Facelift
Unfortunately, it sounds like that you have an injury to the Buccal branch of your facial nerve on the left. Since it has been 15 months it is more likely that this is permanent. In my opinion there si not much an Nerurologist can offer at this point.
Dr. ES
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