Neurological
Bell's Palsy
Restore your smile and facial movement, safely.
What is Bell's Palsy?
Bell's palsy is a sudden, usually temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face, caused by inflammation of the facial nerve. It can affect blinking, smiling and eating. Facial neuromuscular retraining helps restore symmetry and prevents long-term complications like synkinesis.
Bell's palsy causes sudden weakness on one side of the face. The good news: most people recover, and targeted facial physiotherapy guides that recovery while preventing unhelpful muscle patterns.
Signs & Symptoms
- Sudden drooping on one side of the face
- Difficulty closing the eye or blinking
- Trouble smiling, eating or speaking clearly
- Loss of the forehead crease on one side
- Altered taste or sensitivity to sound
- Facial stiffness or tightness
Our Approach
We use gentle facial neuromuscular re-education — mirror exercises, specific muscle activation and relaxation, and modalities to support nerve recovery. Care is taken to avoid overworking the muscles, which can lead to abnormal movement patterns, and we include eye-protection guidance.
Restored Symmetry
Recover a balanced, natural expression.
Better Function
Improve eating, speaking and blinking.
Avoid Complications
Prevent abnormal movement patterns.
Faster Confidence
Guided recovery you can see.
Your Treatment Journey
- 1
Nerve & Muscle Assessment
Grading facial weakness and identifying which movements to target.
- 2
Eye Protection & Care
Advice to protect the eye while blinking is impaired.
- 3
Facial Re-education
Mirror-guided, specific exercises to reawaken controlled movement.
- 4
Synkinesis Prevention
Careful progression to avoid unwanted co-movements as recovery continues.
- 5
Recovery Review
Tracking symmetry and function until movement is restored.
Recommended Exercises & Home Care
Simple activities that often support recovery between sessions — your therapist will tailor and progress these for you.
Mirror facial exercises
In front of a mirror, gently practise raising the eyebrow, closing the eye and smiling — small, controlled movements to retrain the muscles.
Gentle facial massage
Soft circular massage helps maintain suppleness and circulation in the affected side.
Lip and cheek control
Practise puckering, gentle blowing and holding air in the cheeks to rebuild control for speech and eating.
Things to Be Aware Of
- Don't over-exercise — too much effort can cause abnormal co-movements (synkinesis).
- Protect the eye: use lubricating drops and cover it if it won't close fully.
- Keep movements gentle and symmetrical, guided by a therapist.
- Be patient — recovery is gradual and rushing can set it back.
General guidance only — always follow the personalised plan from your physiotherapist before starting any exercise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most people recover well, often within weeks to a few months. Early, appropriate facial physiotherapy supports a smoother, more complete recovery.