Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber is showing early signs of recovery after he was diagnosed with a virus that left half of his face paralyzed, according to a surgeon who specializes in facial paralysis.
In a video posted to Instagram, Bieber said he contracted Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which affected the nerves in his ear and face. He noticed that his right eye wasn’t blinking.
Charles Nduka, a consultant reconstructive plastic surgeon in Britain and co-founder of the charity Facial Palsy UK, said that around 75% of patients with the syndrome who receive early treatment, including steroids and antivirals, make a full recovery.
“I noticed from the video shared by Bieber that he appears to have some evidence of recovery, which is encouraging,” Nduka told Reuters.
“With facial paralysis, one of the most obvious things is that patients are unable to close their eyes completely to blink and are unable to smile,” Nduka added.
“Before the smile recovers, the first thing that will develop is that there is more and more symmetry in the face at rest. So the base of the nose usually lifts up a bit and the mouth becomes more even. In the video that was shared, I could see some signs that there is some early recovery.”
Bieber, 28, said he was physically unable to perform his upcoming shows.
Nduka said he works with patients in the entertainment industry and it’s important that they first address any issues that weaken the immune system before returning to work.
“They will be under financial pressure and all kinds of pressure to get back there as soon as possible, but that will only lead to long-term problems,” he said.
Source: CNN Brasil
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