What is facial reanimation?
Facial reanimation is a term for procedures that help children move their face or make more even movements on both sides of their face. The Facial Reanimation Program at Seattle Children’s Craniofacial Center does facial reanimation for children who have paralyzed face muscles. A nerve called the facial nerve controls the face muscles. One facial nerve comes out of each side of the skull near the ear. These two main nerves divide into many smaller branches that connect to different face muscles. Some nerves go to the upper face and control the eyebrows and eyelids. Some go to the middle of the face and control movements like smiling. Some go to the lower face and control the lips. If the facial nerve or any of its branches does not work, your child will not be able to move some of the muscles in their face. Those muscles will be paralyzed. This is sometimes called facial palsy. Facial palsy usually affects only one side of the face. Some children have a condition that affects both of t
