Mary Jo Buttafuoco Receives Facial Reconstruction Treatment from Dr. Azizzadeh

Mary Jo Buttafuoco took a gunshot to the head when she was 37 years old. The gunshot wound left her disfigured, with a loss of hearing in her right ear and the right side of her face paralyzed. This sad story made national headlines because of the other people involved.

Dr. Babak Azizzadeh of The Facial Paralysis Institute learned about Mary Jo’s story. He found out that she was unable to smile and felt confident he’d be able to help her regain the ability to do so once again.

How Did Dr. Azizzadeh Help Mary Jo Buttafuoco?

Mary Jo Buttafubecame Dr. Azizzadeh’s patient following her Oprah appearance in 2005. During her Oprah appearance, she discussed the facial paralysis and ear damage she suffered as a result of this attack, 14 years earlier. She felt very self-conscious about her looks and had lost much of her self confidence.

Mary Jo accepted Dr. Azizzadeh’s help on the strength of his expertise in the field of facial reanimation. Dr. Azizzadeh conducted a thorough evaluation of Mary Jo’s facial appearance. This allowed Dr. Azizzadeh to evaluate the severity of Mary Jo’s facial paralysis symptoms. It also helped Dr. Azizzadeh craft a custom treatment plan for her.

Mary Jo Buttafuoco Facial Paralysis Treatment

Dr. Azizzadeh planned a complex facial reconstructive procedure for Mary Jo Buttafuoco. The procedure would involve a series of surgeries to improve Mary Jo’s facial symmetry and ensure she could naturally produce facial expressions.

The first step of Dr. Azizzadeh’s treatment plan for Mary Jo was a state-of-the-art facial reanimation procedure involving static facial suspension, facelift, and eyelid lift procedures. These surgeries restored balance to Mary Jo’s face and gave her back her smile.

With the static sling procedure, Dr. Azizzadeh enhanced Mary Jo’s facial symmetry. He used the procedure to ensure the lips, corner of the mouth, and other facial features appeared proportional to one another. At the same time, the procedure enabled Dr. Azizzadeh to minimize the risk of drooling, biting of the inner gum, or other side effects commonly associated with long-lasting facial paralysis.

Dr. Azizzadeh completed a facelift for facial paralysis to simultaneously improve Mary Jo’s facial symmetry and reanimation. During the facelift, Dr. Azizzadeh made a small incision along Mary Jo’s ear and into her scalp. Dr. Azizzadeh ensured the surgery incision was small and could easily hide it. He then raised tissue in Mary Jo’s face, removed excess skin, and tightened underlying muscle layers. To finish the facelift, Dr. Azizzadeh used sutures to close Mary Jo’s surgical incision.

Furthermore, Dr. Azizzadeh used an eyelid lift to ensure that Mary Jo could see clearly. The eyelift also helped revitalize the appearance of Mary Jo’s eyes.

Next, Dr. Azizzadeh performed a surgery to widen Mary Jo’s ear canal to improve her hearing and prevent future infections. She also received physical therapy to strengthen her facial muscles.

Dr. Azizzadeh paid close attention to Mary Jo at each stage of treatment. He tracked her progress as she underwent different procedures. Dr. Azizzadeh asked Mary Jo to share her concerns or questions throughout treatment as well.

Mary Jo Buttafuoco Facial Paralysis Treatment Results

Dr. Azizzadeh appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show to discuss his treatment of Mary Jo Buttafuoco. He appeared alongside Mary Jo, who was brought back to discuss the reanimation wonders performed by Dr. Azizzadeh and his team.

When asked by Oprah how she felt about her new looks and newly functional face, a radiant Mary Jo smiled broadly and said, “I love the results.” Judging by the applause, so did the audience.

Watch Dr. Azizzadeh on Inside Edition to see him explain Mary Jo’s aesthetic and reconstructive procedure. In the video, Dr. Azizzadeh describes how he performed a procedure to help Mary Jo achieve both her aesthetic and functional goals. Dr. Azizzadeh also explains how his main challenge was contouring the two sides of Mary Jo’s face to be as symmetrical as possible.

Key Takeaways from Dr. Azizzadeh’s Treatment of Mary Jo Buttafuoco

Mary Jo Buttafuoco is one of many patients who has benefited from Dr. Azizzadeh’s holistic approach to facial plastic and reconstructive surgery. Initially, Dr. Azizzadeh met with Mary Jo to discuss her facial paralysis concerns and explore treatment options. He performed an in-depth evaluation to learn about Mary Jo’s facial paralysis symptoms. Then, Dr. Azizzadeh crafted and performed a custom treatment plan for Mary Jo. He monitored Mary Jo’s progress throughout treatment and ensured she made a full recovery. In doing so, Dr. Azizzadeh helped Mary Jo achieve outstanding facial plastic and reconstructive surgery results.

For those who are considering facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr. Azizzadeh can help. Dr. Azizzadeh has helped hundreds get back to a normal life through his impressive surgery techniques. From a cleft in the face to rhinoplasty and facial reconstruction, such as in Mary Jo’s case, Dr. Azizzadeh has given 100% to all of his patients. Dr. Azizzadeh has even helped many celebrities alleviate their facial paralysis symptoms.

How Celebrities with Facial Paralysis Manage Their Symptoms

In addition to Mary Jo Buttafuoco, several celebrities have experienced facial paralysis symptoms, including:

George Clooney: Was diagnosed with facial paralysis at 14 years old. Clooney received treatment for facial paralysis and corrected the issue within nine months.
Angelina Jolie: Received a Bell’s palsy diagnosis in 2016. Jolie used acuptuncture to address her facial paralysis symptoms.

Sylvester Stallone: Experienced facial paralysis due to birth complications. Stallone has experienced slurred speech and a crooked smile that have been attributed to his long-term facial paralysis.

The aforementioned celebrities with facial paralysis have not let their symptoms slow them down. Instead, these celebrities have taken appropriate measures to treat their facial paralysis symptoms. As a result, they have built successful careers and continue to remain in Hollywood’s limelight.

To date, Dr. Azizzadeh has treated many celebrities with facial paralysis. Regardless of patient, Dr. Azizzadeh’s approach to facial paralysis remains the same. Dr. Azizzadeh works diligently to identify the root cause of his facial paralysis symptoms. From here, Dr. Azizzadeh determines if a patient is a good candidate for facial plastic and reconstructive surgery or non-surgical treatments. Dr. Azizzadeh then develops a personalized treatment plan for his patient. He remains in constant contact with his patient as the plan is executed and ensures this individual receives ample support and guidance. And if Dr. Azizzadeh’s patient has concerns or questions at any point during treatment, he is happy to address them.

Explore Facial Paralysis Treatment Options with Dr. Azizzadeh

Dr. Azizzadeh has helped Mary Jo Buttafuoco and many other celebrities mitigate her facial paralysis symptoms. He can help anyone coping with facial palsy symptoms do the same.

Those who are evaluating facial paralysis treatment options can meet with Dr. Azizzadeh in person or via Zoom call. These patients can receive a facial paralysis evaluation and get insights into the severity of their symptoms. They can then work with Dr. Azizzadeh to determine the best course of action to correct their symptoms.

To learn more about facial paralysis treatment options or request a consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh, please contact us online or call us today at (310) 923-7793.

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