Bell's Palsy Effect After Chin Lipo

Question

I had chin lipo among other things on Sept 15th. Prior to this I was diagnosised with Bell'S Palsly over 15 years ago. Bell's Palsly makes a person appear as though they had a stroke in their face. Right now the left side of my bottom lip is crocked when I try to talk, smile, eat, or brush my teeth. You know it's weird like I had a stroke. Is this normal or did I make my Bell's Palsly appear again?

Vivek Bansal, MD · Answer

You will need a careful neurologic exam to determine if your nerve is inflamed and the cause. There may just be localized inflammation, but an exam will take a lot of guess-work out. Seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for this exam.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

You likely experienced some bruising of the nerve that innervates the depressor anguili oris or some interference with platysma muscle itself. In general, these tend to be temporary but most prominent for the first 3 weeks following surgery. This tends to resolve on its own and there is not much to do to expedite this.

Elizabeth F. Rostan, MD · Answer

This is a common after effect of liposuction in the chin area. This weakness of one side will improve gradually over days and weeks as healing occurs - no treatment is needed. Very rarely, it may take a few months for complete resolution.

Peter A. Aldea, MD · Answer

Regarding: "Bell's Palsy Effect After Chin Lipo
	I had chin lipo among other things on Sept 15th. Prior to this I was diagnosised with Bell'S Palsly over 15 years ago. Bell's Palsly makes a person appear as though they had a stroke in their face. Right now the left side of my bottom lip is crocked when I try to talk, smile, eat, or brush my teeth. You know it's weird like I had a stroke. Is this normal or did I make my Bell's Palsly appear again?"

	From your question it is hard to tell if you had Bell's Palsy just before you had your Chin liposuction OR it was in the past and had resolved.

	In addition, it is not clear what you mean by "my bottom lip is crocked when I try to talk, smile, eat, or brush my teeth. You know it's weird like I had a stroke". If the liposuction tube bruised or damaged the nerve to the corner of the lip depressor (Depressor anguli oris), that muscle would not be able to pull the corner of the lip down and put up any opposition, as is normally the case, to the muscles which lift the corner of the mouth. The result a large grin such as Jack Nicholson's JOKER. On the other hand if one or more of the facial nerves innervating these lifting muscles are damaged, then, the depressor muscle may be unopposed and there will be stroke like sagging of the corner of the mouth.

	 I would advise you to see a neurologist. This may or may not be related to your surgery and in SOME cases certain medications may help shorten this apparent nerve damage.

	Good Luck.

	Dr. Peter Aldea

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Bell's Palsy can cause permanent dysfunction of the Facial Nerve-however if you recovered fully from your Bell's Palsy then weakness in one branch (to the lip) is unlikely to be precipitated by a facial surgery like Chin Lipo.

	If Chin or neck Liposuction is performed near the lips or the actual chin near the corner of the mouth , a nerve called the Marginal Mandibular Nerve can be injured. If this  nerve is injured the lower lip on one side is weakened and the mouth and smile can be crooked.

	If this has happened, usually the nerve regains function.

	If function has not returned by 4-6 weeks ask your doctor to provide a DC (Direct Current) Electrical Stimulator which you can use at home. Muscle stimulation helps preserve the muscle and speed re innervation.

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