Hemifacial Spasm

Overview

At Mayo Clinic, experienced and highly trained specialists from Neurology and Neurosurgery work together to treat patients who have hemifacial spasm.

Mayo physicians combine their expertise to determine the most appropriate treatment for each patient. Using medications, injections or surgery, Mayo specialists can relieve symptoms, such as involuntary twitching of the muscles of the face, in almost all patients with hemifacial spasm.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is ranked No. 1 in Neurology & Neurosurgery in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings.

Diagnosis

Hemifacial spasm is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by frequent involuntary muscle contractions on one side of the face.

Usually, patients with hemifacial spasm initially experience a twitching around the eye that won't go away. The spasm may then spread to the lower facial muscles. The patient's mouth may begin to pull to one side.

At Mayo, specialists will typically order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to investigate the cause of the hemifacial spasm and determine the most appropriate treatment options. What might take months to accomplish in other settings can be completed in days in Mayo's efficient system.

Treatment

Medications, which must be taken daily, can alleviate hemifacial spasms in some patients. Another treatment option is injection of botulinum toxin type A, which temporarily paralyzes the muscle. Microvascular decompression surgery can be a permanent cure for hemifacial spasm. Learn more about treatment options.

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About Hemifacial Spasm

Hemifacial spasm is a disorder characterized by involuntary twitching and spasms of the muscles on one side of the face. The cause is not known. Hemifacial spasm may occur when a blood vessel makes contact with a facial nerve, irritating the nerve and causing twitching in the face. It may also be caused by facial nerve injury or a tumor, or it may have no apparent cause.

Hemifacial spasm usually affects only one side of the face. An early symptom may be twitching around one eye, which over time can spread to all of the muscles on the affected side of the face.

Symptoms may increase with increased exposure to stress, emotional strain, fatigue, bright lights, televisions, computer monitors and reading. Hemifacial spasm occurs most frequently in middle-aged men and women.