A facial paralysis expert has warned that Justin Bieber may have to wait up to six months for his facial paralysis to heal.
Doctors said that his condition, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, could also result in hearing loss.
The singer recently revealed his diagnosis and said that the right side of his face was paralyzed. He couldn’t smile, blink, or move a nostril on the side, forcing him to postpone his world tour.
In a video Bieber shared on Instagram, he told his fans: “It will go back to normal — it’s just time and we don’t know how much time it is going to be.
“But it is going to be ok I hope. And I trust God and I trust that this is all for a reason and… I am not sure what that is right now but in the meantime I am going to get rest.”
Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Josh Rosenburg told Daily Mail that patients can recover within three to six months.
According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases, about 1 in 100,000 people in the U.S. develop Ramsay Hunt syndrome every year.
Dr. Nina Lu, a facial paralysis expert, said that the paralysis was unlikely to be permanent but it could take months for Bieber to recover.
Both doctors said that owing to the singer’s age his recovery could take only a few weeks.
Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a condition that occurs when the virus that causes shingles in adults and chickenpox in children becomes reactivated and inflames facial nerves.
While it is not clear what triggers the flare up, other underlying medical condition, stress and a weakened immune system were all possible causes.
In addition to facial paralysis, other symptoms include hearing loss, difficulty closing eyes, and difficulty with facial expressions.
“I would give (Bieber) a couple of months, but people can really surprise you — especially young people,” Dr. Rosenberg told Daily Mail.
“He is young, diagnosed early, and treated quickly — which is a good sign.”
“From three to six months — possibly up to a year — [patients] will get some sense of how much movement they have gotten back,” he added.
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