Overview
What is Hemifacial Spasm?
Hemifacial means half the face. Spasm means involuntary contractions of a muscle. Hemifacial spasm is when half the face (either the right half or the left half) twitches uncontrollably.
Causes
The muscles of the face are controlled by the facial nerve, which starts in the brain and travels to the face. If something presses on the nerve somewhere along its course, it can cause muscles to twitch or go into spasm. Most commonly, you may have a blood vessel at the base of the brain which loops near the nerve and presses on the nerve. There are other rarer causes as well.
Detection & Treatment
What can I do about it?
Your doctor may offer you an MRI scan of the brain region to make sure there are no dangerous lesions pressing on your nerve (although this is extremely rare).
Treatment options include:
What are the injections like?
Botulinum toxin is commonly known as "Botox", although it may come as different brand names, depending on the manufacturer. The toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which can be associated with food poisoning called botulism. However, when used in controlled doses, it can safely relax excessive muscle spasms by blocking the signals from the nerve to the muscles.
Key points to note are:
Care Management
What is the outlook for this condition?
Hemifacial spasm is a long-term condition. However, it is not life-threatening and will not damage your vision. With regular treatment, most individuals continue to enjoy good quality of life.
Specialties & Services
