The Facial Paralysis Institute

Home
United States
Beverly Hills, CA
The Facial Paralysis Institute

The premier center for facial nerve disorders including facial paralysis and bell's palsy. Feel free to ask a question or call anytime, we will be glad to help.

The Facial Paralysis Institute is the premier center for facial nerve disorders including facial paralysis, bell's palsy, hemifacial spasm, acoustic neuroma and parotid tumors. The Institute is comprised of world-renowned experts from various specialties that are singularly focused on facial nerve disorders - including facial plastic surgeons, neuro-otologists, physical therapists, head and neck surgeons, radiologists, neurosurgeons and psychologists. Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, the Director of The Facial Paralysis Institute, is a Reconstructive Surgeon who is deeply committed to the treatment of individuals with facial paralysis and Bells palsy. Facial paralysis and Bell's Palsy are devastating disorders that can significantly impact an individuals quality of life and appearance. This is the reason that we believe a multi-specialty approach is required to address your needs with physicians and therapists who have extensive experience in facial nerve disorders. The Institute has some of the highest success rates in the nation for the treatment of Bells Palsy and facial paralysis. Highly respected by peers and patients alike, The Facial Paralysis Institute is the premier facility in the nation for the treatment of facial paralysis.

02/20/2026

True balance reveals itself over time.

At 24 years old, this patient underwent selective neurolysis combined with DAO resection to address facial imbalance caused by synkinesis and uncoordinated muscle activation.

Before surgery, involuntary muscle firing interfered with natural expression — smiling could trigger tension, and resting facial posture often felt effortful. Selective neurolysis was performed to quiet misdirected nerve signals, while DAO resection reduced downward pull at the corners of the mouth, allowing expression to feel more controlled and balanced.

Now, two years post-op, her results reflect long-term stability. Movement appears more intentional, symmetry is improved at rest and with expression, and her face moves with greater ease — without the tightness that once dominated her expressions.

These before-and-after images show the power of precision and patience. Thoughtful surgical planning, combined with time, allows results to mature naturally.

This is not about changing a face — it’s about restoring harmony and letting expression feel like her own again. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

PlasticSurgery

02/18/2026

Facial paralysis can begin suddenly — and knowing who to see matters.

If you notice facial weakness, asymmetry, difficulty closing your eye, or changes in your smile, seeking the right evaluation early is critical. Not all facial paralysis is the same, and proper diagnosis determines the path forward.

Many patients aren’t sure where to start. Should you see your primary care physician? A neurologist? An emergency room doctor? A facial nerve specialist?

In this video, we explain who to see — and when — if you suspect you’ve developed facial paralysis.

Early assessment can help identify the cause, protect eye health, guide treatment options, and improve long-term outcomes.

When it comes to facial nerve changes, time and expertise both matter.

If you’re experiencing symptoms, don’t wait.
📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

PlasticSurgery

02/13/2026

They made a whole movie about it. I just made her smile again.

25 years after a bullet stole her ability to smile, Mary Jo Buttafuoco trusted me to do what others said couldn’t be done.

Selective neurolysis. Deep plane facelift.

One surgery. One new chapter.

Now her incredible story is a Lifetime movie — I Am Mary Jo Buttafuoco — and being portrayed on screen as the surgeon in her journey is an honor.

But the real honor? It was the day Mary Jo looked in the mirror and smiled for the first time in over two decades. That’s the scene no movie can fully capture.

The moment a patient smiles for the first time in decades - that never gets old. That never stops being the point.
📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com
DeepPlaneFacelift

02/06/2026

Facial paralysis doesn’t just affect movement — it can quietly influence how the face changes over time.

When muscles aren’t firing evenly, one side of the face may work harder while the other remains weaker. Over the years, this imbalance can impact symmetry, tone, and the way aging shows up in the face.

In this video, we explore an important and often overlooked question:
Does facial paralysis affect the way you age?

Understanding these changes isn’t about fear — it’s about awareness. With the right guidance, thoughtful treatment, and long-term planning, patients can support facial balance, function, and confidence as time moves forward.

Aging happens to everyone.
But care should always be individualized.

Knowledge is the first step toward feeling informed, empowered, and seen. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

PlasticSurgery

02/06/2026

There’s a part of facial paralysis that isn’t always visible — the quiet moments of self-doubt, the hesitation before a smile, the emotional weight of not recognizing your own reflection.

In this patient testimonial, she shares what it’s been like to move through that uncertainty. The frustration, the vulnerability, and the strength it takes to keep believing in herself throughout the process.

Healing isn’t just about physical change.
It’s about learning to trust your body again.
About finding patience when progress feels slow.
And about holding onto hope, even on the hard days.

Her story is a reminder that recovery is deeply personal — shaped by resilience, courage, and the decision to keep going, one step at a time.

This is what it looks like to show up for yourself. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

ReclaimingConfidence plasticsurgery

01/28/2026

Facial reanimation is about more than movement — it’s about restoring balance, identity, and confidence.

At 43 years old, this patient underwent a facial reanimation procedure combined with fat grafting to address asymmetry, volume loss, and facial imbalance caused by facial paralysis.

Before treatment, the face may appear uneven, tired, or pulled to one side — not reflecting how a person truly feels inside.
After reanimation and fat grafting, the goal is softer contours, improved symmetry, and a face that feels more aligned with the person looking back in the mirror.

Every adjustment is intentional.
Every detail matters.
And every plan is customized to the individual.

At the Facial Paralysis Institute, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh uses advanced facial reanimation techniques and fat grafting to restore harmony, function, and confidence — while preserving each patient’s natural features.

These before-and-after moments represent more than change — they represent progress. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

01/23/2026

Moebius syndrome affects more than facial movement — it shapes how a person experiences the world and how the world responds to them.

People born with Moebius syndrome cannot smile, frown, or show facial expression in typical ways.
Not because they don’t feel —
but because the facial nerves never fully developed.

Behind every still expression is a child, a teenager, and an adult who feels joy, frustration, connection, and love just as deeply as anyone else.

What individuals and families often face is far more than what’s visible. Many are misunderstood as distant or unemotional, simply because their face doesn’t move the way others expect. Daily life can involve challenges with speech, eating, or eye closure, alongside social barriers that begin in childhood and often follow them into adulthood. Over time, this creates the emotional weight of moving through a world that reads faces before it takes the time to truly listen.

Moebius syndrome awareness matters because understanding leads to empathy — and empathy changes how people are seen, treated, and supported.

At the Facial Paralysis Institute, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is committed to caring for patients with Moebius syndrome at every stage of life, with specialized facial nerve expertise focused on function, comfort, and confidence.

This month, we stand with the Moebius community.
To listen.
To learn.
And to recognize the person beyond the expression. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

01/21/2026

After facial paralysis surgery, synkinesis can still affect your movement — causing involuntary tightness or asymmetry.

That’s where Botox comes in. By carefully targeting both the affected and unaffected sides of the face, we can restore balance, symmetry, and natural expression.

Botox isn’t about freezing your face — it’s about precision, timing, and expertise. Every injection is designed to help your muscles work together again.

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

01/14/2026

When the facial nerve begins to recover, there is no clear instruction manual guiding where each nerve fiber should go.

The truth is — we don’t fully know how facial nerve regeneration decides its path.
Some fibers reconnect in ways that restore movement, while others may activate muscles unintentionally or out of sequence.

This uncertainty is why recovery can look so different from patient to patient.

Common changes seen during facial nerve regeneration:
➡️ Uneven or unpredictable movement
➡️ Muscle tightness or pulling
➡️ Delayed or incomplete recovery
➡️ Involuntary facial motion (synkinesis)
➡️ Difficulty coordinating expressions

Because regeneration doesn’t follow a predictable pattern, facial nerve recovery requires close monitoring and individualized care over time.

At the Facial Paralysis Institute, Dr. Babak Azizzadeh focuses on guiding recovery through expert evaluation, targeted treatments, and long-term management — helping patients regain balance, control, and comfort as healing continues.

Facial nerve healing isn’t random carelessly —
but it is unpredictable without expert guidance.

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

⸻

TikTok Caption (Short + Conversational)

Does the facial nerve regenerate randomly?

The honest answer: we don’t fully know.
Healing doesn’t follow a straight line — and that’s why recovery can look so different for everyone.

Expert care helps guide what the nerve can’t predict on its own.

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

FacialNerve FacialParalysis Synkinesis MedicalEducation PlasticSurgery

01/09/2026

At 41 years old, this patient has been living with synkinesis — a condition where facial muscles move when they’re not supposed to.

Smiling can trigger eye closure.
Simple expressions can feel tight, exhausting, and out of sync.

Now, at 9 months post-treatment and with continued, carefully guided Botox management, she’s experiencing more control, more balance, and moments where her face finally feels like hers again.

Progress with synkinesis isn’t about rushing — it’s about consistency, trust, and thoughtful care over time.
This video reflects the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up for your recovery.

Healing doesn’t always happen all at once — sometimes, it happens little by little. 💙

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

01/08/2026

Facial reanimation surgery is designed to restore movement, balance, and expression after facial paralysis.

When the facial nerve is damaged or no longer functioning, the muscles of the face lose their ability to move naturally. Facial reanimation surgery works by reconnecting nerves, transferring healthy muscles, or redirecting signals so the face can move again — with intention and symmetry.

Every surgical plan is customized.
Every face is different.
And every step is focused on restoring function — not just appearance.

This video explains what facial reanimation surgery is, who it’s for, and how it helps patients regain meaningful facial movement.

📍 Beverly Hills | 📞 (310) 657-2203
🌐 www.facialparalysisinstitute.com

Address

9401 Wilshire Boulevard, Ste 650
Beverly Hills, CA
90212

Telephone

+13106572203

Website

http://www.facialparalysisinstitute.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Facial Paralysis Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Beverly Hills?

The Facial Paralysis Institute

02/20/2026

02/18/2026

02/13/2026

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

01/28/2026

01/23/2026

01/21/2026

01/14/2026

01/09/2026

01/08/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category