For the Ability to Smile and Convey Emotion
The Smile Surgery program delivers state-of-the-art surgical care for smile restoration and facial reanimation to patients with facial paralysis. Combining these two areas of highly specialized training has allowed the creation of this unique and comprehensive facial reanimation program.
The goal of smile surgery is to recreate the dynamic ability to raise the corner of the mouth and smile in a natural way. Our fellowship-trained plastic surgeons have successfully restored the ability to smile and convey emotion to patients, changing their lives forever.
Am I a good candidate for Smile Restoration/Facial Reanimation Surgery?
Good candidates generally have permanent total or nearly total facial paralysis on the affected side. As part of the comprehensive care plan, each potential patient must be screened and examined carefully to make sure that he or she is a good candidate. Careful analysis of more than just the loss of the ability to smile will be addressed, as many patients will also have other issues, such as eyebrow droop and lip incompetence.
New techniques in facial reanimation surgery allow the smile to be restored in a single operation, instead of the traditional two-stage surgery. Patients who are not candidates for a single-stage procedure may be candidates for the two-stage procedure. Your surgeon will work with you to determine which treatment is right for you.
I do not live in Chicago, do you take care of patients from out of state?
We routinely take care of patients from throughout the United States. Please reuest a consultation and we will set up an initial screening via email or phone to determine whether you are a candidate for surgery.
Procedure Description
- Length of surgery: 6 to 10 hours
- Length of stay: 2 to 3 day hospital stay
Recovery Process and Final Result
After being discharged from the hospital, you can expect:
- Swelling: 3 to 4 weeks
- Soreness: Leg soreness generally resolves within 1 to 2 weeks
You will usually begin to see movement 4 to 6 months after the surgery. With practice, you should continue to improve for 1 to 2 years.