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.

Facial nerve recovery can occur gradually, making changes difficult to recognise when you see your face every day. Struc...
18/09/2026

Facial nerve recovery can occur gradually, making changes difficult to recognise when you see your face every day. Structured assessment gives us a more consistent way of monitoring recovery.

But facial movement scores and photographs are only part of the picture. Someone may demonstrate good movement while still experiencing tightness, fatigue, synkinesis or significant functional and psychosocial effects.

That is why we combine clinical assessment with your experience of living with facial palsy.

Progress isn't always obvious in the mirror. Sometimes we need to look back to see how far you've come.

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

One of the biggest misconceptions about facial palsy is that once movement returns, recovery is complete. But facial rec...
16/09/2026

One of the biggest misconceptions about facial palsy is that once movement returns, recovery is complete. But facial recovery is not simply about whether a muscle can move.

You may have good movement and still experience:
Facial tightness
Asymmetry
Eye narrowing during smiling
Unwanted movements
Difficulty producing a natural smile
Facial fatigue
A feeling that the face is "working too hard"

These symptoms may reflect changes in coordination and motor control, rather than a lack of strength.

Facial rehabilitation can therefore remain relevant even after substantial movement has returned.

The goal isn't simply more movement. It is better-quality, better-coordinated movement.

Movement returning is a milestone, not always the end of recovery.

Ready to take the next step in your recovery?

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

The facial nerve and the parotid gland have an important anatomical relationship. The facial nerve passes through the pa...
14/09/2026

The facial nerve and the parotid gland have an important anatomical relationship. The facial nerve passes through the parotid gland before dividing into branches that control the muscles of facial expression. This means the nerve may be vulnerable during surgery involving the parotid gland.

Facial weakness after surgery can vary considerably depending on what happened to the nerve. In some cases, the nerve remains anatomically intact but has been temporarily affected. In others, the nerve may have sustained more significant injury. This is why two people who have undergone parotid surgery may have very different facial recovery journeys.

Understanding what happened to the facial nerve helps guide expectations and rehabilitation.

Facial palsy after surgery requires an individualised approach to recovery because 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

Some people notice something unusual after facial nerve injury: their eye starts watering when they eat. This is called ...
11/09/2026

Some people notice something unusual after facial nerve injury: their eye starts watering when they eat. This is called gustatory tearing or "crocodile tears."

During facial nerve recovery, regenerating nerve fibres do not always reconnect exactly as they did before the injury. In some cases, activity associated with eating can become linked with tear production.

The result? Eating may trigger tearing from the affected eye.

It can be frustrating, but importantly, it is a recognised consequence of facial nerve injury and recovery.

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

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

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Head Quarters
Cape Town
7400

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