Facial reanimation surgery is a transformative procedure that restores movement and symmetry to the face after paralysis due to conditions like Bell’s palsy, trauma, or nerve damage. While the surgery itself is critical to reanimation, physical therapy plays an equally important role in achieving the best possible results.
At The Aesthetic Surgery Center on the Upper East Side in New York City, our renowned plastic surgeon, Dr. Elliott H. Rose, shares his expertise in facial reanimation surgery with patients from across the world. Read on to learn more about how physical therapy helps you on your journey to more normal facial movements.
After facial reanimation surgery, your muscles and nerves need time and guidance to function properly. Physical therapy helps you regain strength, coordination, and control over facial movements by stimulating weak or newly innervated muscles to enhance facial expressions.
It also ensures that muscle groups move independently rather than contracting involuntarily, allowing your facial movements to appear more natural. Another goal of physical therapy is to promote balanced movement between the affected and unaffected sides of the face.
By improving muscle function and coordination, facial reanimation physical therapy helps you feel more comfortable and expressive in social interactions.
Dr. Rose customizes physical therapy for your needs, but it typically involves the following components:
Gentle massage techniques improve circulation, reduce stiffness, and encourage muscle relaxation. Stretching exercises help prevent tightness and asymmetry.
You learn to isolate and control facial muscles through biofeedback techniques, mirror exercises, and guided movement training. This process enhances your awareness and coordination.
Dr. Rose may recommend low-level electrical stimulation to activate muscles that are slow to respond. However, this is applied selectively based on your individual needs and recovery stage.
You receive customized exercises to practice at home, reinforcing therapy sessions and promoting faster improvement.
Recovery depends on the extent of nerve damage and the type of reanimation procedure performed. Generally, you can expect:
Consistent participation in therapy sessions and adherence to at-home exercises helps you with a successful recovery. Understand that your progress may be gradual, but your dedication to physical therapy significantly enhances the final outcome.
If you have undergone or are considering facial reanimation surgery, The Aesthetic Surgery Center is here to support all steps in the process. Call or click here to schedule an appointment and learn more about how physical therapy can help you achieve the best results after your procedure.
