Gracilis Free Flap Muscle Transfer

My doctor looked at me, studied me, touched my face a little, and asked me to do some simple movements with my face. I tried! I cannot move my right eyebrow at all, I can't close my eyes, and it seems like that won't ever be possible, I can't smile-it looks like I'm frowning, and there are a plethora of other things I simply cannot do.

We spoke about Facial Physical Therapy and how it's progressing; he referred me to her and wanted me to try it out and see if it would work its magic somehow. It really is going great and I'm learning a lot! She is the only facial physical therapist in the state of Virginia; so, her books are pretty full!

At my initial appointment with my doctor, he said my case is quite complex and cannot be found anywhere in textbooks. That's how you know you're unique and quite the puzzler! He presented my case to hundreds of well-known and respected doctors worldwide at their last meeting and today, we are going over the surgical options that will best suit me and my face.

We are doing, what is called, the Gracilis Free Flap Muscle Transfer to both sides of my face. I will have nice little scars going down in front of my ears and ending in a crease in my neck. With my hair down, you will never see the scarring. With my hair pulled up, there's no hiding those babies!

With this surgery he will be taking a portion of the gracilis muscle from my inner thigh along with a vein, nerve, and artery and attaching it to the weaker muscles of my face, in my masseter region. He will be starting with the left side of my face. This surgery will take anywhere from 8-10 hours, and I will be staying in the hospital for up to 3 days. They do this to make sure you do not get any blood clots! As someone who had DVT in my coma, I'm at a slight risk of developing them...but not much at all since I'm active! BUT FIRST! I have an appointment lined up in less than two months to start the process by injecting Botox in the super strong muscle in my face that overpowers EVERYTHING.

I know, it sounds backwards to weaken a muscle. But this muscle is dominant and pulls my lower lip downward and I talk from the side of my mouth. The hope is to weaken it so that way when my brain tells my face to move, it gives the other muscles of my face a CHANCE to move. But this is only a temporary solution, along with facial physical therapy, and I want a permanent solution!

After the surgery on the left side of my face, I have to wait up to 6 months to see results. To see any animation! If I don't, we know the surgery didn't take and we try again with my other gracilis muscle. If it does work, on we go to the other side of my face!

He will also be putting a muscle in under my eye to help with my eye closure. PRAISE JESUS!

My initial eye plastic surgeon referred me to this doctor and urged him to look at my case. His office gave me a call a week later and I got an appointment to see him two weeks later! I am so very thankful for this meetup. I am excited to see what happens!

This doctor has created the facial reanimation program here at UVA. He is a professor and always has residents and fellows with him!

I am excited to share this journey with you all. I hope you are too, and I hope you learn a lot in this process!

Me at Sheltering Arms Institue before my discharge...& I was smiling!