The Facial Nerve Program in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, the first and only program of its kind in the state of Alabama, offers a comprehensive team approach for patients experiencing facial paralysis in an effort to improve their condition and therefore, their quality of life.  

The UAB Facial Nerve Program was established in June 2017 by Benjamin Greene, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Otolaryngology, and Rene Myers, M.D., associate professor in the UAB Department of Surgery. This multidisciplinary team includes surgeons, therapists, nurses, and advanced practice providers who specialize in the treatment of facial nerve palsies, injuries, and disorders.

“The UAB Facial Nerve Program has continued to expand every year in terms of services, providers, and access,” said Allison Seamon, PA-C, certified physician assistant in the Facial Nerve Program. “It’s exciting to see the growth, but it’s most rewarding to see grateful patients who, for so long, really had no good options for treatment. They come to us discouraged and emotional about their appearance, and they leave hopeful about recovery.”

The facial nerve team sees patients of all ages with complete or partial facial paralysis resulting from trauma, viruses, benign brain tumors, cancers, or congenital deformities. The most common cause of facial paralysis is Bell’s palsy, which makes up 80 to 90 percent of the Facial Nerve Clinic’s practice. Bell’s palsy is an acute facial paralysis that results from injury or trauma to the seventh cranial nerve. One in 60 people will be affected at some point in their lifetime, and about 40,000 US citizens experience it each year.

The exact cause of Bell’s palsy is unknown, but it is often associated with stress, viral illnesses, pregnancy, Lyme disease, HIV, autoimmune conditions, and diabetes.

For the majority of people, Bell’s palsy is self-limiting and resolves within a couple of months. For some, about 15 percent of the facial nerve never recovers, and patients are left with facial weakness, asymmetry, facial pain and tightness, and dysfunctional movements. These symptoms have a profound effect on a person’s work life, social interactions, and psychological health.

The UAB Facial Nerve Clinic offers several surgical and non-surgical treatment options even years after diagnosis.