Post by Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Vanderbilt Health’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery recently hosted its first facial synkinesis education symposium. The program welcomed people experiencing facial paralysis conditions to hear from physicians and fellow patients. Members of the facial-plastics team presented on issues facing patients, followed by a panel discussion by five patients who have received treatment for facial synkinesis at Vanderbilt Health. Facial synkinesis is an umbrella term for conditions that cause unwanted facial muscle movements, such as a person’s eye closing when they attempt to smile. For several patients on the panel, conditions such as Bell’s palsy or the growth of a brain tumor brought on their facial synkinesis. To learn more about the program and hear from one of the patients who spoke at the symposium, check out our article: https://bit.ly/4oxwa5U