Is Botox Injection Linked to Facial Paralysis?

While it's possible for facial paralysis to occur after hyaluronic acid injections, the incidence rate is relatively low. For facial paralysis to result from such injections, there must be damage to the facial nerve. This can happen when the injection needle penetrates too deeply during a cheek hollow filling procedure, reaching the area where the facial nerve originates. If the facial nerve is injured, the muscles it controls can experience functional impairments, such as difficulty contracting. Over time, this may lead to muscle atrophy, causing symptoms like the inability to fully close the eyes, trouble raising the eyebrows, difficulty making facial expressions, and challenges with speaking, eating, and opening the mouth.

Understanding Facial Stiffness After Hyaluronic Acid Injections

More commonly, patients experience facial stiffness following hyaluronic acid injections. However, this condition differs from facial paralysis in terms of underlying mechanisms. Facial stiffness typically occurs when too much hyaluronic acid is injected. Once introduced into the skin, hyaluronic acid absorbs water and expands, potentially shifting out of place with facial movements. As the filler moves, it can cause the face to feel stiff and expressions to appear unnatural. Some individuals may mistake this stiffness for facial paralysis, but they are distinct issues with different causes.