Hemifacial Spasm

Treatment

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in brain and nervous system conditions (neurologists), brain and nervous system surgery (neurosurgeons), and other doctors evaluate and treat hemifacial spasm. Doctors will educate you about your condition and work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

Your treatment may include:

• Botulinum injections. Your doctor may inject botox (botulinum toxin type A or type B) into the affected muscles, which temporarily paralyzes those muscles. You'll need additional treatments every few months. People often have improvement in their symptoms after botulinum toxin treatment, with benefits often lasting three to four months.
• Other medications. Medications, including clonazepam and diazepam, can relieve hemifacial spasm in some people.
• Microvascular decompression surgery. In this surgery, your surgeon makes an opening in your skull and opens the covering of your brain (dura) to expose the facial nerve as it leaves the brainstem. Your surgeon locates the blood vessel pressing on or irritating the facial nerve and puts a sponge-like material between the nerve and blood vessel, removing the pressure on the nerve. This surgery often can relieve hemifacial spasm.