Hemifacial spasm is twitching on one side of the face. Starts in the eyelid. Months later the cheek joins in, then the corner of the mouth. The cause is an artery lying against the facial nerve near the brainstem. Botulinum injections hide the twitch for a few months. Moving the artery away fixes it. People often wait years before asking about that second option, and that’s usually the mistake.
According to Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney, a Neurosurgeon in Mumbai, trigeminal neuralgia treatment: “A twitch that began at the eyelid and has now reached the mouth is rarely stress, because by that stage the nerve is being compressed on every heartbeat.”
Twitching that started at the eyelid and has reached your cheek or mouth?
What Types of Seizures Carry the Highest Risk of Brain Damage?
The pattern gives it away in most patients, and once MRI confirms the vessel, functional neurosurgery planning starts.
What Brain Changes Do Recurrent Seizures Produce Over Time?
Injections suit patients who can’t or won’t have surgery, but only microvascular decompression removes the cause making it the most effective long-term option for trigeminal neuralgia treatment.
How Is Seizure-Related Brain Damage Prevented and Treated
Pain that doesn’t settle should be reported as premature, and pain after MVD surgery explains what’s normal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hemifacial spasm go away without treatment?
Rarely. In most cases, it keeps progressing spasms spread further down the face and grow more frequent over time without intervention.
How long does botulinum toxin last for hemifacial spasm?
About three to four months per round. Most patients return for repeat injections to keep symptoms under control.
Is hemifacial spasm the same as blepharospasm?
No. Blepharospasm affects both eyelids. Hemifacial spasm involves one side of the face — typically starting at the eye and spreading to the cheek and jaw.
How effective is microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm?
Eight or nine in ten patients experience lasting relief. It’s the only procedure that addresses the root cause a blood vessel pressing on the facial nerve.
References
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