Leading Beverly Hills Facial Nerve Surgeon Comments on Bronze Medalist Beat Feuz’ Newest Bout with Facial Paralysis

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh – The Renowned Facial Paralysis Surgeon Who Restored Gunshot Victim Mary Jo Buttafuco’s Face – Shares His Insights On Bell’s Palsy Treatment Options

BEVERLY HILLS, CA / ACCESSWIRE / November 16, 2016 / Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon and pioneering Bell’s palsy specialist Dr. Babak Azizzadeh has offered his observations on the recent facial paralysis suffered by bronze medalist skier Beat Feuz.

The 29-year-old world championship member of the Switzerland ski team may miss the opening Alpine World Cup speed races after suffering facial paralysis during training. Treated at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver, Feuz was diagnosed with nerve problems on the right side of his face. According to the team, Feuz had similar symptoms as a teenager.

“Upon experiencing facial nerve paralysis, it is imperative to go straight to an emergency room for diagnosis of Bell’s palsy. The doctors will perform a variety of tests to rule out any other causes and give you the proper does of steroids and anti-viral medications,” said Dr. Azizzadeh. “After this initial diagnosis, the patient needs to wait to see if the Bell’s palsy recovers completely or not. Eighty-five percent of Bell’s palsy patients will have a full recovery. If after a year you still have not recovered completely, it is time to start looking into treatment options.”

Feuz took the downhill bronze at the 2015 World Cup speed races held in Beaver Creek, Colorado. He also had top-5 finishes in six straight downhills last season, including victory at St. Moritz.

“We are wishing Beat a full recovery from his Bell’s palsy. While the recovery process feels long and discouraging for Bell’s palsy patients, it is important to know that 85% will experience a full recovery. And for those who do not experience a full recover, we want you to know that treatment options have come a long way in recent years and you have several surgical and non-surgical options to restore your facial movement,” commented Dr. Azizzadeh.

A facial paralysis expert, Babak Azizzadeh, MD, FACS has helped hundreds of patients over the years who were suffering from Bell’s palsy and/or another type of facial paralysis. Dr. Azizzadeh is the founder and Director of The Facial Paralysis Institute. He is a board-certified Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon who strives to provide cutting-edge treatment to patients with facial paralysis and Bell’s palsy. Also certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, Dr. Azizzadeh has a unique expertise in the field that has made him one of the most renowned surgeons in the world.

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh/Bell’s palsy

Bell’s palsy is named for Sir Charles Bell, a 19th century Scottish surgeon who described the facial nerve and its connection to the condition. The disorder, which is not related to stroke, is the most common cause of facial paralysis. Bell’s palsy is a form of temporary facial paralysis resulting from damage or trauma to the facial nerves. Each facial nerve directs the muscles on one side of the face, including those that control eye blinking and closing, and facial expressions such as smiling and frowning. When Bell’s palsy occurs, the function of the facial nerve is disrupted, causing an interruption in the messages the brain sends to the facial muscles. This interruption results in facial weakness or paralysis.

Bell’s palsy is the leading cause of facial paralysis in America, and occurs when the nerve that controls the facial muscles is swollen, inflamed, or compressed, resulting in facial weakness or paralysis. The disorder afflicts approximately 40,000 Americans each year, affecting men and women equally. Bell’s palsy can occur at any age, but it is less common before age 15 or after age 60 and disproportionately attacks people who have diabetes or upper respiratory ailments such as the flu or a cold. The disease has a very sudden onset and patients experience almost immediate paralysis of the face. Bell’s palsy is a form of facial paralysis that does not have associated causes such as tumors, trauma and salivary gland inflammation. For patients with Bell’s palsy, a complete neurologic and ear, nose, and throat evaluation needs to be done immediately. Signs and symptoms of Bell’s palsy come on suddenly and may include rapid onset of mild weakness to total paralysis on one side of your face — occurring within hours to days; facial droop and difficulty making facial expressions, such as closing your eye or smiling; drooling; pain around the jaw or in or behind your ear on the affected side; increased sensitivity to sound on the affected side; headache; a decrease in your ability to taste; and changes in the amount of tears and saliva you produce. In rare cases, Bell’s palsy can affect the nerves on both sides of your face.

“Bell’s palsy is a devastating disorder that can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. Fortunately, most people who are diagnosed with the condition can expect a full recovery with no lingering problems. However, up to 15% of people with Bell’s palsy may not experience a full recovery. If the facial nerve and facial movements do not return to completely normal, there are surgical and non-surgical treatment options to improve facial movements. Botox and selective neurolysis are some of the most effective treatments available for facial reanimation following Bell’s palsy. Selective neurolysis is the most cutting-edge surgical treatments for patients experiencing facial paralysis and synkinesis,” added Dr. Azizzadeh.

About Dr. Babak Azizzadeh:

Since his extensive and prestigious training at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Azizzadeh has helped hundreds of people with varying degrees of facial paralysis. Dr. Azizzadeh is the director of the Facial Paralysis Institute and one of the leading figures in the field of Facial Nerve Paralysis. Dr. Azizzadeh has been recognized for his work on several occasions, and has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and countless other media outlets. Dr. Azizzadeh is trained in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, as well as Head & Neck Surgery, giving him a distinctive insight into facial nerve function and facial aesthetics. Dr. Azizzadeh also has extensive training in microsurgical facial reconstruction, which is often required for the treatment of people who are born with facial paralysis. For more information please visit www.FacialParalysisInstitute.com.

CONTACT:

SSA Public Relations
Steve Syatt / steve@ssapr.com / (818) 907-0500

SOURCE: Dr. Babak Azizzadeh

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