Facial Palsy SA

Facial Palsy SA Facial Palsy South Africa is a clinical initiative dedicated to the rehabilitation, education, and advocacy of individuals affected by facial nerve disorders.

One of the most important moments in facial rehabilitation doesn't always happen when a new movement appears.Sometimes, ...
09/09/2026

One of the most important moments in facial rehabilitation doesn't always happen when a new movement appears.

Sometimes, it happens when a patient finally understands why their face is behaving the way it is.

Why the eye closes when they smile.
Why the face feels tight.
Why trying harder doesn't necessarily produce a better movement.
Why recovery can change over time.

Understanding these changes can replace some of the uncertainty with a clearer path forward.

Every facial palsy journey is different. Rehabilitation begins by understanding your face, your symptoms and your goals.

Patient experiences vary. Testimonial shared with permission.

Recovery doesn't have to be something you navigate alone. If you are living with facial palsy, synkinesis or facial tightness, the right guidance can help you better understand your facial movement and take meaningful steps forward.

At Facial Palsy SA, rehabilitation is tailored to your individual facial function, symptoms and stage of recovery.

Book a consultation and let us help you take the next step towards better facial movement, confidence and quality of life.

📧 [email protected]
📞 082 511 8212
🌐 www.facialpalsysa.com

When we assess your smile, we aren't simply looking at how high the corner of your mouth can move.We look at how the mov...
07/09/2026

When we assess your smile, we aren't simply looking at how high the corner of your mouth can move.

We look at how the movement is produced. The timing, effort, symmetry, coordination and presence of unwanted movements can tell us a great deal about facial motor control.

This is also why repeatedly forcing the biggest smile possible isn't necessarily helpful during facial rehabilitation.

Sometimes learning to produce a smaller, softer and more controlled movement is an important step towards a more natural smile.

Ready to take the next step in your recovery?

Every facial nerve injury is unique, and your rehabilitation should be too.

At Facial Palsy SA, we provide comprehensive facial assessments and evidence-based Facial Neuromuscular Retraining tailored to your diagnosis, stage of recovery and individual goals.

Whether you are navigating facial weakness, synkinesis, tightness or changes in facial movement, we are here to guide you through the next stage of your recovery.

Contact us to book a consultation and take the next step towards better facial movement, function and confidence.

📧 [email protected]
📞 082 511 8212
🌐 www.facialpalsysa.com

If food keeps collecting between your cheek and teeth, you're not imagining it.Facial palsy can affect the muscles that ...
04/09/2026

If food keeps collecting between your cheek and teeth, you're not imagining it.
Facial palsy can affect the muscles that help control the lips and cheeks during eating.

This may make it more difficult to:
- Keep food centrally positioned while chewing
- Clear food from the affected cheek
- Maintain a good lip seal
- Drink without spilling
- Control saliva

Some people compensate by chewing predominantly on one side or manually clearing food from the affected cheek.

The appropriate strategies will depend on your individual facial function and any other swallowing difficulties that may be present.

Facial palsy is about much more than your smile. Everyday functions such as eating can be affected too.

Recovery doesn’t have to be something you navigate alone.

If you are living with facial palsy, synkinesis or facial tightness, the right guidance can help you better understand your facial movement and take meaningful steps forward.

At Facial Palsy SA, rehabilitation is tailored to your individual facial function, symptoms and stage of recovery.

Bell's palsy is probably the best-known cause of facial paralysis, but facial palsy is a symptom, not a single diagnosis...
02/09/2026

Bell's palsy is probably the best-known cause of facial paralysis, but facial palsy is a symptom, not a single diagnosis.

The cause, location and severity of facial nerve involvement can influence both the expected recovery and the rehabilitation approach.

This is particularly important when facial weakness develops gradually, progresses over time, recurs, affects both sides of the face, or occurs alongside other neurological symptoms.

New or unexplained facial weakness deserves appropriate medical assessment.

Save and share this post - greater awareness can help people seek appropriate assessment sooner.

Every facial nerve injury is unique. Your rehabilitation should be too.

At Facial Palsy SA, we provide comprehensive assessments and evidence-based Facial Neuromuscular Retraining tailored to your diagnosis, stage of recovery and individual goals.

Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the next step in your individualised recovery journey.

📧 [email protected]
📞 082 511 8212
🌐 www.facialpalsysa.com

During a facial palsy assessment, photographs are an important part of documenting your facial function.We may photograp...
31/08/2026

During a facial palsy assessment, photographs are an important part of documenting your facial function.

We may photograph your face at rest and during specific movements such as raising the eyebrows, gently closing the eyes, smiling and puckering the lips.

Why?

Because small changes can be difficult to recognise from memory alone. Standardised photographs allow us to compare facial symmetry, movement and control over time.

They can help us identify improvements that you may not notice when you see your face in the mirror every day.

Photos aren't about judging how your face looks. They are a clinical tool that helps us measure, compare and understand your recovery.

Ready to take the next step in your recovery?

Every facial nerve injury is unique, and your rehabilitation should be too.

At Facial Palsy SA, we provide comprehensive facial assessments and evidence-based Facial Neuromuscular Retraining tailored to your diagnosis, stage of recovery and individual goals.

Whether you are navigating facial weakness, synkinesis, tightness or changes in facial movement, we are here to guide you through the next stage of your recovery.

Contact us to book a consultation and take the next step towards better facial movement, function and confidence.

📧 [email protected]
📞 082 511 8212
🌐 www.facialpalsysa.com

28/08/2026

Four months after facial reanimation surgery, this patient achieved their first visible movement at the corner of the mouth (right side).

What may seem like a small movement is, in reality, a significant step in recovery. It reflects months of healing, nerve regeneration, dedicated rehabilitation, and unwavering perseverance.

Recovery following facial reanimation surgery is rarely instantaneous. Progress often happens gradually, one movement at a time. These early signs of activation can mark the beginning of a new phase of recovery, where the movement is refined, strengthened, and integrated into meaning facial expression.

Every facial palsy journey is unique, but milestones like these remind us that improvement is possible, even when progress feels slow.

Shared with patient consent.

Have you undergone facial reanimation surgery or are you considering it? We would love to hear about your experience.
If you would like to learn more about specialist facial therapy and rehabilitation following facial nerve injury or facial reanimation surgery, contact Facial Palsy SA to schedule a consultation.

[email protected]
Facial Palsy SA

A diagnosis of facial palsy often comes with uncertainty.Questions about recovery.Questions about treatment.Questions ab...
26/08/2026

A diagnosis of facial palsy often comes with uncertainty.

Questions about recovery.

Questions about treatment.

Questions about what the future might look like.

At Facial Palsy SA, we believe that no one should have to navigate that journey alone.

Whether your facial palsy occurred a few weeks ago or several years ago, experienced assessment can help identify your current stage of recovery, explain why you're experiencing particular symptoms and develop a personalized rehabilitation programme based on the latest evidence.

Our goal isn't simply to improve facial movement.

It's to help you regain confidence, improve everyday function and support your quality of life.

Every recovery journey is different. That's why every treatment plan should be too.

If you or someone you know is living with facial palsy, we'd love to help.

Contact Facial Palsy SA to book a comprehensive facial assessment and begin your personalized recovery journey.

[email protected]
082 511 8212
www.facialpalsysa.com

When facial movement begins to return after facial palsy, it's tempting to smile harder and practice more often.But faci...
24/08/2026

When facial movement begins to return after facial palsy, it's tempting to smile harder and practice more often.

But facial rehabilitation isn't about building stronger muscles; it's about restoring better movement.

After a facial nerve injury, the goal is to help your brain and recovering nerve work together to produce coordinated, efficient facial expressions.

Repeatedly forcing a smile may encourage excessive muscle activity, increase facial tightness, or reinforce abnormal movement patterns.

Instead of asking:
"How hard can I smile?"
Ask:
"How smoothly can I smile?"

Slow, controlled and precise movements provide your brain with clearer information and support healthier movement patterns.

At Facial Palsy SA, we focus on movement quality, not simply movement quantity.

Because more coordinated and precise movement, not bigger movement, is what supports long-term recovery.

Are you practising your smile, or practising the wrong movement pattern? Facial rehabilitation is about moving smarter, not harder.

At Facial Palsy SA, we use evidence-based Facial Neuromuscular Retraining to help you improve facial symmetry, reduce unwanted movement and achieve more natural facial expressions.

Contact Facial Palsy SA to arrange a comprehensive assessment and personalized rehabilitation programme.

[email protected]
082 511 8212
www.facialpalsysa.com

Many people judge their recovery by asking one question:"Can I smile normally yet?"But recovery after facial palsy is ab...
21/08/2026

Many people judge their recovery by asking one question:
"Can I smile normally yet?"

But recovery after facial palsy is about much more than a bigger smile. Here are three encouraging signs that your rehabilitation may be moving in the right direction:

1. Your movements feel smoother.
You need less effort to produce facial expressions.

2. Your face feels more balanced at rest.
Improved resting symmetry is often an important milestone.

3. Everyday activities become easier.
Speaking, eating, drinking and making eye contact feel more comfortable.

Recovery is often measured through quality, not quantity.

Every small improvement represents progress in how your brain, facial nerve and muscles are learning to work together again.

Celebrate those milestones. They matter.

Recovery does not happen by chance; it happens with the right guidance.

If you are living with facial palsy, synkinesis or facial tightness, you don't have to navigate recovery alone.

Book a consultation with Facial Palsy SA and let us help you take the next step towards better facial movement, confidence and quality of life.

[email protected]
082 511 8212
www.facialpalsysa.com

One of the most common things we hear from patients is:"Everyone says my face looks much better... but it still doesn't ...
19/08/2026

One of the most common things we hear from patients is:
"Everyone says my face looks much better... but it still doesn't feel normal"

This experience is incredibly common.

As your facial nerve recovers, your brain is also adapting to new movement patterns. Even when facial symmetry improves, your face may still feel tight, heavy, numb or as though you need to concentrate much harder to smile.

This doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.

Recovery involves far more than muscle movement.

It also involves how your brain interprets movement, sensation and effort.

Over time, many patients notice that facial movements become more automatic and require less concentration.

Facial neuromuscular retraining helps improve movement efficiency while retraining the brain to produce smoother, more natural facial expressions.

Healing isn't only something you can see.

Sometimes the biggest changes are the ones you can feel.

Ready to take the next step in your recovery? Whether your facial palsy occurred recently or many years ago, specialist facial rehabilitation can help you better understand your symptoms, improve facial movement and regain confidence.

Contact Facial Palsy SA to book a comprehensive facial assessment and receive treatment guidance tailored to your needs.

[email protected]
082 511 8212
www.facialpalsysa.com

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