Dr. Michelle S. Hwang, MD

Facial paralysis is an inability to move the muscles in the face. It often affects only one side, and it can happen quite suddenly. Facial paralysis may make one's face feel frozen or numb.

Facial paralysis can happen when there is inflammation or damage to either the part of the brain that controls the facial muscles or the nerve that carries signals from the brain to the face. Some common causes include:

• Stroke, which can affect the part of the brain controlling the face and prevent those muscles from working
• Bell's palsy, an inflammation of the main facial nerve
• Lyme disease
• Birth trauma or difficult birth, which can cause facial paralysis in babies (usually temporary)
• Head trauma in which nerves are damaged

Rhinoplasty is any surgery done to change the shape and structure of the nose. It is commonly done for cosmetic purposes, but it may also be done to reduce breathing difficulties. Surgery may include any part of bone or cartilage of the nose. In some cases, cartilage is transplanted from the ear or rib to augment the nose.

Rhinoplasty may be done for reasons that are primarily about appearance, such as:

• Changing the shape or size of the nose to better fit the proportions of the face
• Lifting a downward tilt at the tip of the nose
• Adjusting an asymmetrical nose
• Closing unusually large nostrils
• Reconstructing a nose that has been damaged after trauma.