Endoscopically assisted suspension in facial palsy

We used an endoscopic static suspension in a patient suffering from a facial palsy resulting from a surgical injury of the facial nerve. The technique was similar to an endoscopic mask lift; the effects on the paralyzed inferior eyelid, on the oral commissure, and on the brow ptosis were very impressive during the procedure, and this effective suspension was stable until the neurologic recovery. The eye was protected, the mouth was competent, and the facial tone at rest was symmetric after the procedure. Two years after this endoscopically assisted suspension, the hemiface is symmetric at rest and shows a mass movement during animation. The electromyelogram confirms the partial neurologic recuperation at this time. The advantages of this technique are numerous: no alloplastic material is implanted, no muscle or skin transfer is used, the procedure is simple and gives an effective and stable result, and the scars are limited. Considering these advantages, this technique could be used in some indications.