John Kao's Story

Microvascular Decompression for Hemifacial Spasm

Photo Credit: John Kao

For five years I suffered from a hemifacial spasm caused by pressure of an artery on the facial nerve. Much of my work is public facing and several hundred facial spasms per day were both disfiguring and distracting. At first I tried botox treatments, which are the only other clinical approach and are palliative. In hindsight, I should have sought surgical treatment much sooner.  The botox treatment did not resolve the spasms and have adverse side effects over time like muscle weakening. 

The surgery has been life-changing. It's like a grinding noise in my head that has suddenly gone silent.

 

 

 

 

 

I had a microvascular decompression surgery at Stanford. The recovery was smooth with just one routine hospital overnight stay. I returned home the afternoon of the day after surgery and had no complications or issues. The surgery has been life-changing. It's like a grinding noise in my head that has suddenly gone silent. 

Dr. Michael Lim is obviously a world-leading expert in the treatment of these conditions. He is the "go-to-guy." Dr. Lim's bedside manner is outstanding and consists of equal parts of intelligence and heart. He is a "caregiver" in the true sense of the word. I appreciated how he presented information about success rates and potential complications in a spirit of realism. The clinical care team at Stanford was also outstanding. Every member of the team projects the same concern for patient wellbeing and quality treatment that Dr. Lim provides. 

Surgery and hospital stays are not what most of us would actively seek out, but my experience at Stanford was excellent.  I appreciated the quality of the food services, the comfort of the accommodations and the skill level of the nursing staff.

Written by: John Kao, MD, MBA, FRSA

About Hemifacial Spasm and Microvascular Decompression:
Hemifacial spasm is a disorder characterized by sudden and uncontrolled movements of the face. Hemifacial spasms are often attributed to a blood vessel compressing the nerve (cranial nerve seven) that supplies the facial musculature as it exits the brain stem. The so-called microvascular decompression of the seventh nerve is a reliable and efficacious way of treating hemifacial spasms, and remains the procedure of choice for definitive therapy of hemifacial spasm. Microvascular Decompression is an invasive surgery that requires an overnight stay in the hospital. At Stanford our neurosurgeons have many years of expertise in microvascular decompression surgery to treat a variety of conditions.