Genie's Impact

The effect of the treatment can be seen in these photographs. The facial paralysis occurred on 9.7.98, with the first treatment on 14.7.98. The subsequent photographs were taken after three and nine treatments respectively.

One year ago, the right side of the face of consultant Kyllikki Takala was paralysed. The doctor’s opinion was not comforting since, in his view, nothing could really be done about facial paralysis. It might heal slowly by itself, if at all.

Let us review the situation in a year’s time, was the verdict.

Kyllikki was petrified, because her livelihood depended on her work, which meant being face to face with people.

It was out of the question for me to wait and see what happens, she tells us.

Fortunately, Kyllikki had for many years been visiting Sirkka Timonen, a beautician, and knew that she had the experience and the right equipment for the treatment of facial muscles. The paralysis occurred on Thursday. The following Tuesday Kyllikki was already laying on Sirkka’s treatment couch. In total, 20 treatment sessions were needed, two or three times a week. One session lasted around 15 minutes.

During the first session, the facial muscles on the paralysed side did not contract at all, says Sirkka Timonen.

Very slowly Kyllikki began to feel a pinching sensation in her upper lip. The paralysis occurred on 9 July last year, and her final treatment session was on 9 November. She had 15 frequent sessions, and then time between the treatments was increased. Apart from the results which were slowly being achieved, it was important to Kyllikki Takala that someone was treating her, and that she was not left alone in distress. Then she also began to seek help elsewhere.

I tried nerve track massage and acupuncture. Luckily I was on summer vacation and I was able to attend two treatments on the same day, she now laughs in a relieved manner. Sirkka Timonen did not go bald headed into treating Kyllikki’s face, but first discussed the issue with Pekka Pöntinen, Docent at the University of Tampere.

The treatment will be most effective if commenced straight away, Pekka Pöntinen comments.

In addition to electric therapy, treatment forms for facial paralysis consist of acupuncture and laser.

The most beneficial side of the equipment used for facial paralysis treatment are their flexibility and controllability.
90% of facial paralysis cases will heal in time but, if untreated, the remainder may leave behind a visible handicap. Facial paralysis is often caused by draughts, although a definite link between them is difficult to prove. Facial paralysis may be a symptom of a serious neurological condition, and it would be wise to investigate this at the start of any treatment. Docent Pöntinen states that the weather during the past summer was awkward.
When driving with the car window open in hot weather, the resulting draught may cause a paralysis. But it may also occur when walking down the path to the shed in cold wind.
In the experience of Sirkka Timonen, treatment can also alleviate old cases of paralyses to some extent.
I do not have experience of any long-term treatment of such cases because each treatment session costs FIM 300 and not everyone can afford to pay for extended treatment. But only a few sessions have helped even older people.
The treatment is based on electrical impulses. They massage the facial muscles through small electrodes without any nerve stimulus. This treatment was developed by Roland Baxendale, Doctor of Neurophysiology in Glasgow University, England. The device was designed and developed specifically for rehabilitation of facial muscles, but beauticians quickly adopted it for use in facial cosmetic care.
This could be called facial bodybuilding. Basic treatment takes around 10 sessions, each 10 minutes long. Facial muscles are conditioned, making the face firmer and giving it a lift. This will result in a younger appearance, Sirkka Timonen tells us.
The condition of the facial muscles is maintained with a booster session every 4-6 weeks.
This provides an alternative for a facelift by surgical means, says Sirkka Timonen.

By Helinä Kanninen