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Shai M. Rozen, M.D., F.A.C.S.
1801 Inwood Road
Dallas, TX 75390
Phone: (214) 645-2353
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
One of the most common conversations I have with patients who have post-paralysis facial synkinesis is this one: “Should I keep doing BOTOX, or is it time to consider surgery?” The honest answer is that there is no single right answer, and that's by design. In our practice, we believe this decision belongs to the …
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The lower lip is controlled by four key muscles—depressor labii inferioris (DLI), depressor anguli oris (DAO), mentalis, and platysma—working together under the direction of the facial nerve. These muscles and their nerve supply play a critical role in helping you smile, speak, eat, and communicate emotion in ways so automatic you never think about them... …
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For patients living with facial paralysis, particularly those recovering from Bell’s palsy or other facial nerve injuries, synkinesis can feel like an unexpected and frustrating turn in the recovery journey. Many are told, “Give it time—it’ll get better.” But as those months turn into years, new, involuntary facial movements begin to emerge when patients perform …
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The straight answer is that they are not. What is the relationship between Bell’s palsy and synkinesis? In its purest form, Bell’s palsy (or, as some would call it, Bell palsy) is a facial paralysis of unknown etiology (unknown cause); hence, it is associated more with a cause than a result. Synkinesis---also called non-flaccid facial …
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Frequently, patients at my Dallas practice ask whether a facelift, neck lift, blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), or other cosmetic facial procedures can be performed during reanimation surgery. The simple answer is yes. In fact, in order to optimize results from facial paralysis correction, it is not only necessary to perform microsurgical nerve surgery, complex eyelid surgery, …
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Why Won't My Lip Go Down on the Side That I Have Synkinesis? As mentioned in previous blogs on synkinesis, one of the characteristic findings is that certain muscle groups work against each other rather than working in synchrony. A simple example of this is the activity of the biceps and triceps muscles in the …
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As mentioned in our previous blog, Protection of the Eye in Patients With Facial Paralysis – Part 1, one of the most important priorities is to protect the cornea of the eye. In patients who present early in their paralysis (preferably within the first 6 to 12 months), reinnervation of the muscles of the face, …
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Following a period of temporary facial paralysis, many men and women may find that the affected facial nerves have recovered, but lingering asymmetry and involuntary muscle movements may persist. This condition, known as synkinesis, results from a miscommunication between the facial muscles and nerves. What is synkinesis? If you or a loved one are facing …
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Perhaps the highest priority in treating patients with facial paralysis is preventing blindness. The cornea is a thin layer of tissue that covers the pupil that is crucial for allowing light to enter the eye and reach the retina, thus allowing vision. Protection of the cornea is crucial because injury to the cornea may eventually …
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Approximately a month ago, my university asked me to give a talk in a newly created venue called Science Café on the subject of facial paralysis. The goal of this talk was to provide information for all non-medical people from Texas, across the United States, and abroad who are interested in the subject, whether they …
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