Some surgeons will operate to relieve pressure that they suspect is damaging the nerve. One of the greatest problems with Bell s palsy is the involvement of the eye, because the lid may remain open. The eye potentially can become dehydrated, develop corneal ulcers or become subject to infection and damage. A induced ptosis or definitive eyelid surgery. The Power of the Smile One of the most devastating results of Bell s palsy is the loss of the ability to smile.
Victims often retreat from exposure to other people, thus dramatically changing their behavior.
This change can be permanent if the neurological damage is permanent. A series of cases and their effect on the person and his or her close associates are described by Jonathan Cole in his recent book About Face. The procedure involves using one of the nerves involved in biting. The procedure involves learning to smile consciously rather than doing so spontaneously. Controlling this nerve response to appropriate occasions can take months to learn.