I'm on day 4 of my journey. I'm reading all the good and bad I can, and really having mixed feelings about the recovery. Good luck to all! Prayers your way!

I had Bell's palsy when I was 23. The Dr. gave me steroids and it went away in 6 weeks. 10 yrs later at 33 it returned. The Dr. told me it would go away on its own so I did not take any steroids and I wish I had. I am now 75. I have regained about 70% of the muscle tone and use however my face remains somewhat contracted on the side of the palsy giving me a crooked smile. I have learned to live with it and do facial exercises and facial massage..Most people don't notice it.

This is an excellent video, thank you for posting it. I wish all physicians could see this because there are a lot of lackadaisical and mediocre doctors out there who forgo prescribing steroids and tell their patients "just wait (for up to several months) for your Bell's to improve." I think feeble medical advice is a big part of the reason why 25% of Bell's patients make either a partial recovery or no recovery at all.

I've had this all my life. I wish there was doctors that offer this surgery to those people who are not rich.

I was diagnosed with Bell’s palsy in 2014. I have had it for 6 years. Never knew I had this option. I want my smile back. I want my ear to stop being so hyper-sensitive to sound. Essentially, I want my life back. I dnt know about anyone else, but I’m tired of being questioned about my eye. My eye has been off for 6 years... and my vision on that side has changed. I would love to have someone help me.

I have been with Bell's palsy for 13 years. I want my dimple back.

I have bells palsy I've had it since 2014 and was told nothing can be done, I thank you for this so much.

Thanks for taking the time to comment back to me. You really help me out thanks again..

Very informative and helpful, didn't know there was an actual surgery that could help.

I have bell’s palsy almost 3 years now my face is about 80% back to normal. I had it on my left side but my dimple on my right is no longer present. When I pucker my lips my left side is still droopy. When I smile my left eye still closes. I still sometimes have ear and eye pressure pain. But to the untrained eye my face looks a little normal because I was doing the exercises I googled. The doctor I was seeing was absolutely no help whatsoever. I pray one day I’ll be able to come to Chicago and see if I can get some help. It really has made me a bit self conscious about my face

I also have my bell's palsy for one year and I'm not healed anymore what should I do to improve my face and what is the right procedure in my face.

Hi, I've reached out to Dr. Leonetti and this is his response: "Surgery for Bell's Palsy cannot be used if the paralysis occurred one year earlier. The surgery must be performed within three months. I suggest you see Dr. Kircher at Loyola for Botox injection for synkinesis." We're sorry that you are going through this, but we hope the injections help. - Nancy

I figured it went deeper than it was.

Im going on 4 years with daily pain still. What I wouldn't give for a cure

my daughter has congenital maxiofacial paralysis..she underwent a surgery to reconstruct the smile. Dr says she needs physiotherapy, but the problem is that I can't find a specialist where I live. im trying to find videos on KZfaq, but I cant find any...any recommendations for physiotherapy videos to help?

I have been with bell's palsy for 7 years now

I've had bells palsy for almost 7 years. It's just light, but can it be solved through surgery? Or medication m

I've had bells palsy since I was 12 I'm now 31 and I just want my smile but I'm afraid surgery won't bring it back fully

Hello i am a 45 yr old female this is my third time with bell's palasy 1992,2005,and since july of this year 2014. in 2005 it hit the left side of the face i was left with permanent extensive nerve and muscle damage my eye still droops but with a type of shock treatment not enough that blocks my full line of vision. as of my test yesterday on the right side i was told there is now the same on that side that it would be months and months if ever any recover i was then told about some type of facial surgery that would be recommended by my neurologist after eight months because now it would be considered extensive muscle and nerve damage on both sides can someone please give me a name or information about this procedure he would of been referring to

My daughter has a palsy being caused by a small .5 cm meningioma on the nerve near her ear canal. It was assumed to be Bell's palsy, so we didn't find out about the tumor for almost 2 years. Her palsy is not complete because she can still pucker her lips and hold air in her cheeks, but her blinking is not complete and she cannot smile. Is there any hope of her recovering facial movement after removing the tumor after all that time? Thanks.

It's my understanding that the cranial nerve surgery wasn't being offered because it was possible to damage the nerve and cause even more damage. I would like to know if this risk has been minimized now.

i can come chicgo. i have this since 30 years can i smile again

I've been suffering from bells palsey since i was 3-4 yrs old and i'm in my early 30s now. i wonder if there are any options for someone in my situation.

ive had that for the past 23 years. im 24 years old. happened in an accident when i was 1. never had the money to fix it and never thought it was possible. still dont have the money,but i know a treatment exists and that keeps me going on. its literally the worst thing that ever happened to me and i would not wish that for anyone.

Highly recommend Acupuncture

Cast ??

Hi.i have this nearly 5 years how can i contect with u

Not symmetry on kissing face,can not whistle,my effected eye is smaller,when open big mouth, lt's been already 11months since the onset.please doc ,l need your suggestion? Thank you.

already recovered like 50% by stimulation but i want to know is there any chances to be get back right

I hv bells palsy for almost 1 yr..almost 70% is clear but nose side is still affected... Do i hv this surgery option?

I was wondering if surgery is an option after after waiting a year from the time I had bp? I have had BP 2 differnt times and the first time my whole face got all movement back. Now the second time I got all movement back except for my Left eye.I was wondering if surgery was or could be one of my option?1st time Bp was on my left side 2nd time it was on my right side. and for some reason once my right side of my face healed I seen that my left eye started not working right.. Please help...

Hello there .. so I've been suffering from bells palsy for about almost 5 years and I'm just now going to see a doctor to get facial surgery but I rather do this but I would love to get more information on it like where you guys are located and if my insurance covers it or how much it would be if it doesn't cover it

Hello,I've had this condition for 25 years, and I was wondering if you have any recommendations for Dr's in my Albuquerque NM area. I have medical insurance which I'm hoping will be able to cover some of the expenses but I don't have money to travel to Chicago. Would be nice but I haven't been that lucky....

It is more than a weakness. Your face won't move. I had it for about 4 months or longer in 2002. It came back in about 2003 around March. It started around the last of August. Everyone said it would be 2 weeks before it would clear up. It was a nightmare. I still have bouts of it once In while.

My mom has had it for almost 30 years. It’s affecting her left side of the face. I have moved to the US almost 20 years ago and I just reunited with her after so many years. Her bell’s palsy hasn’t changed a bit since I remember. Could she have a “solution” to her problem or it has been too long??. I live in La Grange Park, IL.

I was born with this and I also have strabismus left side of face

I have bell's palsy since last 20 year can i get solution with this operations. .?

I had bells palsy nearly 9yrs ago. Regained 100% feeling back. Bit I do have a lasting problem of the fact that my left upper lip muscle doesn't work. Have all feeling except it won't work. I've been searching for answers as to of there is a way to regain function of my upper lip they medical means or am I just SOL?

I has my bells palsy 21 years ago as I was pregnant at the time I couldn't receive any treatment until 3 months after I had my baby but my face never recovered and I do have pain very bad when I am laughing coming from like the bottom of my ear I can't not smile on pictures anymore or raise my eyebrows would my case still be possible that this surgery will help me recovery completely

I've had it on both sides on my face and now my left side face is only 70% recovered. I'm still struggling with low self-confidence and anxiety. Is this paralysis curable? Because I've had it for almost 9 yrs now. I miss my smile terribly.

Can u plsss send me the home tips pls pls plsss m pls dent me sme use full tips Lind

I will do that if i did not cure

Surgery of any kind should always be a last resort, you have to live with all the effects. If it's swollen then let it be de-swollen with anti inflammatory agents.

Ok can someone please tell me if I can undergo this surgery?

Please help..😞 Been struggling with this since more than a month now, completed my dosages of steroids and taken electric stimulation every day but still am unable to smile.. though my lower eyelid seems like starting to move in this last few days.

Hi Keisha, and any other staff or doctors reading this. I see a lot of very distressed people on here asking for advice and seeking some hope for their situations. I note that the only response given from the Loyola site is that doctors would have to see you before they could advise. Please understand that few people seeing this video will actually live in your geographical area, and even fewer would be able to afford to travel to you for surgery or a consult. I suggest it would be a kindness and a courtesy to provide some answers to some of the bigger questions, such as whether it is too long to have surgery if a patient has had BP for years. Obv. you can't comment on individual cases with out a consult, but I'm sure it would be possible to answer generally, for example "some people have had success as many as X years after diagnosis, but the numbers are small and it would depend on X Y and Z in the patient's history." Know what I mean? A bit of hope and some extra knowledge will mean a lot to the many people reading these comments. It would also be a wonderful PR exercise for you guys so would not be a total waste of your time and expertise from a remuneration perspective. Cheers.

I had bellspalsy for more than fifteen years and i got better but one of myeyes and part of face shows when i want to smile and laugh،my doctor seems didnot care to advice me other treatment،its so frustrating،i live in toronto canada ،how u can help to get mylife back،thank you

I have bell palsy i been taking prednisone and acyclovir for 5 days now and I don't feel like the Medication is working for me because I feel the same

I’ve had Bell’s palsy for 7 years. Is there anything i can do. It’s just my smile that drives me crazy

Im having bell's palsy for 13 years now , is there any surgical treatment possible? And how much it can cost me ?

Hello I have been suffering from Bell's Palsy for more than 21 years due to unknown circumstances and I am looking for a medical solution. I live in sultanate of Oman and have 24 years old . Please refer me to a doctor or medical center to treat my problem. I would to know all the treatment expenses Issa

hi sir. How much will it cost for the complete treatment

Hello sir i have bell palsy for around 2 months but with a medicines i does not have hope that i will recover can loyola medicine help me i am in india

I have bells palsy for almost 15 years now. I am a teacher of primary levels. I loss my confidence whenever my students notice it and they will say spiteful things about me. I'm conscious every time I speak with them. I never undergo medication but only massage. Right now I can say that I am not 100% fully recovered maybe I'm on way of 85%. And I believe there is no impossible with GOD! What can you suggest or say something about my case? Thank you.

It goes on it’s own doesn’t it

Hello.. I am 32yrs old and have bell's palsy when i was born (BORN WITH BELL'S PALSY). Is there any solution.

Hello sir, this is Sandeep from India I've this problem since 2003 could be possible in 300 to 4000k INR ?

I really need that surgery my Face going worst

My mom suffrng. With bells plsy beft 3yr,,wt we want to do ,,we r from andhrapradesh

good Evening how you contact you ? please help me AND HAVE MERCY ON ME , MY PROBLEMS CURSEsickness bell palsy in FOR long 14 years SUFFERING ON ME UNTIL NOW 2016

My facial nerve was cutted of 34 years ago by a surgeon at the age of one month he was removing a cyst in my face.... If the facial nerve is chopped of can surgery still help me ?? Plz some one tell me

I have mine 25years now 😭😭😭😭I really love to smile 😭😭😭😭😭😭my biggest insecurity

Sir I am recovered 80 % but 20 % not recovered 20% recovered possible what now tell me I am so sad 😭😭😭 this case tell me

i have bell's palsy since i born operation is good for me

avaiable in india

i have bells palsy since last 2.5 year can i get solution with operations. .? im from india Pune

Where this doctors live

Hi sir iam from nepal plz sir i have bells palsy before 13 month .. my facial paralys is not complete but 70% is recovert but not 100% ..so in this case what can i do please sir give me good solution ..

Anyone knows of a person thats dealing with bell's palsy

Battling Bell's palsy is no easy feat, but with Planet Ayurveda's top-notch treatment, you'll be back to your old self in no time.

HY iam.from.india i have bell palsy in one and half year. Iam very sad what i do .pls.helpe me sir

Plssss can u reply nd sujsmeee

Help me I am suffering from this disease since wen I was 9 years old now I am 25 I also want to look good ones in life ☹️☹️

bells and facial palsy doesn't need treatment its beautiful how it is

my daughter has congenital maxiofacial paralysis..she underwent a surgery to reconstruct the smile. Dr says she needs physiotherapy, but the problem is that I can't find a specialist where I live. im trying to find videos on KZfaq, but I cant find any...any recommendations for physiotherapy videos to help?