Is Ultherapy safe for someone who had Bell's Palsy?

Question

I had Bell's Palsy four years ago. Is there a chance that Ultherapy on the jawline, chin and neck area will give me a reoccurrence of that nerve issue?

Deborah Kessler Hudak, MD, MHA · Answer

The treatment with Ultherapy is not supposed to be delivered deeper than the SMAS, which is superficial to (ie above, closer to the skin than) the muscles.  The muscles, not the skin, are innervated by Cranial Nerve VII, which is the affected nerve of Bell's Palsy.  We do not know for certain the cause of Bell's Palsy, but many believe it to be a virus.  
With that explanation, Ultherapy should theoretically not be a cause of recurrent Bell's Palsy.  We do know that patients can have mild swelling in the first couple weeks after Ultherapy...and that swelling could possibly cause some select patients to have symptoms consistent with a recurrent or initial Bell's Palsy.....but that should all resolve rather quickly, usually within days (if it occurs at all) or a couple months in a rare situation.  Cold packs over the treated area could reduce the likelihood of a Bell's Palsy.....but cold packs in the first few days to the treated area(s) after treatment are generally discouraged (as are the use of NSAIDs or other non-Tylenol-based pain relievers) because it is believed the inflammation initially in the tissue helps to encourage an optimal amount of collagen production, to give final better results.  So if it happens to you, apply cold packs but not sooner than 72 hours after the treatment.

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi,thanks for your question.Bell's Palsy is a condition in which the muscles on one side of the face become weak or paralyzed, after some kind of trauma to the seventh cranial nerve ( facial nerve).Ultrasound energy delivered by ULTHERA has not been evaluated in patient populations with Bell's Palsy so there are no specific contraindications about it. However, it's been proved that Ultherapy can cause sensory changes for the first several weeks. These include a tingling feeling and feeling of numbness that usually resolve within the first month.My main suggestion would be to visit a Board Certified Specialist to discuss about the best options for you.Feel free to contact us anytime.Best of luck.

Kevin Tehrani, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question! If you do not have active Bell's palsy we could discuss if Ultherapy is the right treatment for you. The company precautions, but does not contradict, Ultherapy in a patient who has had Bell's palsy because there is no direct research on the two together. I recommend seeing a board certified plastic surgeon in person to discuss what you are trying to accomplish and see if Ultherapy is even the right choice for you. There may be other options that can help you achieve the look you want!

Is Ultherapy safe for someone who had Bell's Palsy?

Answers (3)

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