“I woke up to a face I didn’t recognize—and a life that suddenly felt unfamiliar.” After surgery for an acoustic neuroma in 2002, Maria...

“It wasn’t just hard to eat or speak—what hurt most was not being able to smile back at people.” After her stroke in December...

“For years, I smiled for others, but I never felt it was truly mine.” At just nine years old, Ms. Memi underwent ear surgery...

“I used to avoid mirrors. I couldn’t recognize myself anymore.” In February 2023, an unexplained facial nerve palsy turned Ms. Georgia’s life upside down....

“I wanted to smile, but I couldn’t. My face wouldn’t let me.” For years, Ms. Efi lived with facial paresis on the left side,...

“I had fought so hard to recover, but my face still didn’t feel like mine.” After a hemorrhaging stroke in March 2024, Mr. Fotis...