Denise, now 59, experienced a sudden onset of facial drooping and paralysis on one side of her face just before her 30th birthday. The condition, diagnosed as Bell's palsy, caused her mouthwash to dribble and made one side of her face appear lopsided.
Bell's palsy is a condition that causes temporary weakness or paralysis of the facial muscles. While doctors initially estimated external symptoms would last three to four months, Denise found it took about two and a half years to feel like herself again internally, with lingering effects persisting for decades.
During the initial phase, Denise struggled with daily activities, including eating and speaking. She recalled trying to blow out candles on her birthday cake and being unable to, a moment that highlighted the condition's impact. Her friends and colleagues were supportive, with her team at work being informed in advance to prevent awkward questions. Despite this support, the visible asymmetry caused significant distress.
Lingering Effects and Seeking Solutions
Even after the acute paralysis subsided, Denise was left with lasting changes, including pronounced differences in facial creases and involuntary muscle movements known as synkinesis, where smiling on one side caused her eye to narrow. This asymmetry significantly affected her confidence, especially in photographs, leading her to often wear sunglasses or edit images.
In 2025, at age 58, she underwent private surgery to address the synkinesis. While this helped, she remained conscious of the persistent asymmetry in the crow's feet and overall facial balance. A year later, in March 2026, she sought treatment from Dr. Sabika Karim at Skin Medical to explore cosmetic options.
Dr. Karim explained that asymmetry in facial muscles is common and that treatment requires a tailored approach. "When someone has more pronounced facial asymmetry, achieving a natural result becomes even more dependent on the injector’s expertise," Dr. Karim stated. The treatment involved injecting Botox into specific areas to relax overactive muscles and balance the facial features.
A Renewed Sense of Confidence
After two treatments, each lasting three to four months, Denise reported that the results exceeded her expectations. The cosmetic procedure helped her facial features appear more balanced and harmonious, significantly boosting her confidence after nearly thirty years of living with the condition. She noted that the combination of surgery and Botox "revolutionised" her life, enabling her to feel like a different person and no longer hiding her face.
Dr. Karim emphasized that aesthetic medicine should focus on helping individuals feel like the best version of themselves, rather than creating perfection. For Denise, this approach allowed her to embrace a new chapter in her life, including rejoining a dating site where she has met a new companion. Her experience, which resolved a 30-year struggle with a 30-minute treatment, serves as a testament to finding solutions for long-term conditions.