Welcome to Face First!  It is important to establish that facial dysfunction is not merely a cosmetic issue, it is a communication issue. Our faces provide communication about our thoughts, intentions, understanding and the very message we are trying to convey to others. Facial nerve injury can cause facial dysfunction, whether from Bell's Palsy, Acoustic Neuroma, Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome or trauma. The nerve goes through different phases of healing which will be further addressed during your session. Face First offers a very specific approach known as Neuromuscular Facial Retraining to address facial nerve dysfunction.

 

A poignant time to begin addressing facial dysfunction is when synkinesis emerges. Synkinesis may be noted especially when movement in the affected side starts to return, and yet some other facial muscles move at the same time even when you don't want them to do so. It is somewhat like a cross-wiring or over-healing of the nerve. One example of common synkinesis includes the eye closing when smiling. Prior to the onset of synkinesis, eye care and education are crucial.