Hemifacial Spasm

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The Columbia University Hemifacial Spasm Center of Excellence provides comprehensive diagnostic, surgical, and follow-up care for individuals suffering from hemifacial spasms. This rare disorder affects individuals of all ages and results in a profoundly diminished quality of life for affected patients. Our mission is to deliver the highest quality evidence-based treatment for individuals with hemifacial spasms. The Center is led by Raymond F. Sekula Jr., MD, an internationally recognized cranial nerve surgeon who has performed more than 1,500 microvascular decompression procedures for hemifacial spasm.

Watch Dr. Raymond Sekula explain hemifacial spasm:

Neurosurgery's Director, Facial Pain and Spasm Center, Raymond Sekula, MD explains hemifacial spasm

Our Approach to Care

Columbia experts can help with both the diagnosis and treatment of hemifacial spasms.

Diagnosing Hemifacial Spasm

Our experts will start by performing a simple, painless test before you meet with our surgical team. Diagnostic facial musculature electromyography (EMG) is a highly specialized test that examines the facial nerve to diagnose or confirm the condition of hemifacial spasm. We also offer state-of-the-art MRI imaging. These advanced diagnostic tools help confirm whether microvascular decompression is likely to provide durable long-term relief.

Treatment Options

Because oral medications are largely ineffective in diminishing the frequency and severity of facial spasms, botulinum toxin injections and microvascular decompression surgery remain the only options for patients. For many patients seeking a long-term solution, microvascular decompression offers the highest likelihood of durable relief without ongoing Botox treatments. Increasingly, HFS patients are seeking an experienced surgeon to perform their microvascular decompression surgery. In this procedure, an expert will move a blood vessel away from the facial nerve and interpose a felt cushion between the blood vessel and the facial nerve through a small incision behind the ear.

I found Dr. Sekula online and noticing his success rate with microvascular decompression, I decided to get the surgery. The outcome was awesome! No more twitches, no more spasms, and no more Botox! There was minimal scarring and relief the very same day after surgery.

Many patients report immediate improvement and the ability to stop repeat Botox treatments after successful surgery.

Our Expertise

Patients from across the country and around the world seek Dr. Sekula’s expertise for first-time surgery, recurrent symptoms, and failed prior procedures. Internationally recognized for his work, Dr. Raymond Sekula has performed more than 1,500 MVDS for hemifacial spasms and continually refined the procedure so that most patients will spend one or two nights only in the hospital without the need for the intensive care unit prior to discharge from the hospital.

I suffered from hemifacial spasms for 3 years. After having a bad experience with Botox and realizing that it does not cure hemifacial spasms, I found Dr. Sekula, who performed my MVD surgery. Not only are my spasms gone, the symmetry of my face is back to normal. This surgery significantly changed my life and self-confidence. I feel as if a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I give all thanks to Dr. Sekula and his team!

Facial Pain and Spasm Center of Excellence