Errors in cosmetic procedures can need physical therapy

Errors in cosmetic procedures can cause loss of facial symmetry, inability to close the mouth or eye, difficulty smiling and an expressionless face. The most frequent cause is damage to the facial nerve, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hülya Şirzai, Medical Director of Romatem Health Group. “Wrong interventions on the face can leave lasting damage. That calls for prompt physical therapy and rehabilitation.”

Treatments, devices and anti-ageing products for facial rejuvenation are widely used today. Alongside good results they can bring unwanted effects. Common errors include unsuitable techniques or procedures and, recently, botulinum toxin obtained from unreliable sources to cut costs.

Wrong cosmetic procedures can paralyse the face

“Many patients come to our clinics after facial beautification and rejuvenation procedures with facial asymmetry, difficulty closing the mouth, loss of symmetry when smiling, an eye that does not close, and numbness in the mouth, face and tongue. Expressions and a symmetrical face matter enormously in human relations; a face reflects emotions as well as physical and inherited features. The facial nerve gives the facial muscles their tone and movement, and it also serves taste and protects the inner ear from loud noise. After a wrong cosmetic procedure, hearing and taste problems are hard to notice, but loss of facial movement is noticed at first glance, and eating, drinking, speaking and expressing happiness, surprise, disgust or anger can become difficult.”

How it is treated

Eleven percent of facial nerve injuries during medical procedures occur during cosmetic procedures. If the nerve is known to have been preserved during surgery and early facial paralysis appears, the effect of local anaesthetic may be responsible; if it does not resolve in the expected time, treatment should start as soon as possible. Left to heal on its own, about a third of patients are left with lasting damage.

“Treatment depends on the type of damage. Where the nerve is intact we rely mainly on medication and physical therapy; where it has been cut, surgery is needed. Early on we use medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, antivirals, corticosteroids and vitamin preparations. As the damage becomes chronic, physical medicine and rehabilitation approaches take over: superficial and deep heat, high-intensity laser, electrotherapy, exercises for the facial muscles and face yoga. Depending on the damage, we see clear improvement in about two to three weeks. We ask patients to do the exercises we show them regularly.”