Timeline: This patient is shown after treatment for facial paralysis that developed following the removal of a skull base tumor. Facial reanimation surgery was performed after waiting 9–12 months for potential spontaneous nerve recovery.

Surgical Recovery: Patients generally require several weeks of downtime before resuming normal activities while improvements begin in the months shortly following the procedure as the transferred nerve regenerates.

Procedure Details: This patient underwent a right brow lift, placement of a right facial Gore-Tex sling to restore the melolabial fold, and a right masseteric-to-facial nerve transfer. In this procedure, a branch of the chewing muscle nerve is connected to the facial nerve, allowing the patient to smile by engaging the masseteric nerve. Over time, this allows patients to smile by engaging the masseteric nerve.

Outcome: The goal of facial reanimation is to restore lasting symmetry at rest and improve facial expression. For this patient, the combined procedures helped reestablish balance and the ability to smile with greater confidence.