Facial paralysis

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Facial drooping

Ptosis, drooping of the eyelid

Paralysis of the face

Treatment depends on the cause. Follow your health care provider's treatment recommendations. Sometimes steroids and acyclovir may be given depending on the cause.

If the eye cannot be fully closed, the cornea must be protected from drying out with prescription eye drops or gel.

Call your doctor if you have weakness or numbness in your face. Seek emergency medical help if these symptoms occur along with a severe headache, seizure, or blindness.

The doctor will perform a physical exam and ask you questions about your medical history and symptoms, including:

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• Are both sides of the face affected?
• Have you recently been sick or injured?
• What other symptoms do you have? For example, drooling, excessive tears from one eye, headaches, seizures, vision problems, weakness, or paralysis.

Tests that may be done include:

• Blood tests, including blood sugar, CBC, ESR, Lyme test
• MRI of the head
• CT scan of the head
• Electromyography

The doctor may refer you to a physical, speech, or occupational therapist. If facial paralysis from Bell's palsy persists for more than 6 - 12 months, plastic surgery may be recommended to improve eye closure and facial appearance.

Review Date: 03/05/2007
Reviewed By: Daniel Kantor, M.D., Director of the Comprehensive MS Center, Neuroscience Institute, University of Florida Health Science Center, Jacksonville, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.