Emory Facial Nerve Center

The Emory Facial Nerve Program focuses on the most up-to-date treatment options for patients suffering from facial paralysis. The facial nerve is critical for eye protection, facial expression, speaking, eating, and other basic functions. Facial paralysis, which results from injury to the facial nerve, can appear suddenly or develop gradually over time. This condition can take many forms, including facial drooping, involuntary movements, or facial tightening.

Signs and symptoms of facial paralysis include:

• Inability to raise the eyebrow or close the eye

• Eye dryness or irritation

• Facial drooping

• Inability to smile, pucker, or frown

• Difficulties speaking or eating

• Drooling

• Cheek biting

• Facial tightness and/or pain

The Emory Facial Nerve Program's multidisciplinary team includes specialists from microneurovascular surgery, neurotology, facial plastic surgery, oculoplastic surgery, neuroradiology, and facial physiotherapy, and we treat such facial paralysis disorders as:

• Bell's palsy

• Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome

• Facial paralysis following surgery for parotid tumors, acoustic neuromas, facial nerve tumors, and head and neck cancers

• Facial paralysis resulting from ear surgery, ear infection, or temporal bone trauma

• Neurofibromatosis

• Congenital facial paralysis

We offer personalized facial physiotherapy as well as other nonsurgical methods, including botox injections for involuntary facial spasms and synkinesis. We also perform a wide array of surgical procedures for functional restoration around the eye, including browlift, upper lid weights, and lower lid tightening. For midface symmetry and smile restoration, we offer a full complement of techniques including selective neurectomy, myomectomy, facial slings, nerve transfer, nerve grafting, and gracilis muscle transfers.

Director

H. Michael Baddour, MD
Associate Professor
Head and Neck Oncology/Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine

Additional Physicians

Gaye Cronin, OTD, OTR
Neuromuscular Facial Retraining
Vestibular Atlanta

Adam De La Garza, MD
Assistant Professor
Emory Eye Center, Section of Oculoplastics, Orbital and Cosmetic Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine

Douglas E. Mattox, MD
William Chester Warren, Jr., MD, Professor and Chair
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Neurotology
Emory University School of Medicine

Gustavo Pradilla, MD
Associate Professor
Department of Neurosurgery
Emory University School of Medicine

Anita Sethna, MD
Associate Professor
Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
Associate Program Director
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine

Esther X. Vivas, MD
Professor
Neurotology
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Emory University School of Medicine