weak facial muscle

[nice sax]

Some years ago I had an operation to remove an acoustic neuroma and this has left the facial muscle under my eye weak. This is not a problem normally but I am a saxophone player and when I form my embouchure and blow the saxophone my eye closes slightly from the bottom which causes some interference with my vision when reading music.

I can solve this problem by stretching the skin on my cheek with my finger but obviously this is not practical when blowing my saxophone. I have tried using sticky tape which would solve the problem but would look stupid.

Can anyone advise me of any creams on lotions I could use to tighten the cheek muscle so that the bottom lid of my eye did not slightly close when I am playing.

Any help will be much appreciated.

NICE SAX

[jackthehat]

I kid you not....but creams for the treatment of hemorrhoids are supposed to tighten-up the under-eye area!

A modelling tip, apparently!

[sara3]

you're not going to get a lotion or potion to tighten a muscle. see your gp to see if there's any help other than surgery.

I had surgery on my upper eyelid a couple of years ago, and the difference is quite remarkable.

best of luck :o)

[Sqad]

This is indeed a difficult problem and not uncommon following the removal of an acoustic. You a lucky in that it appears that only one muscle is involved as it could be a muscle group.

Forget creams etc, the only hope for you, in my opinion, is to consult a plastic surgeon with a view to Botox injected into the affected muscle.

Good luck

[fliptheswitch]

Sticky tape? Seriously?
Anyway, I'm thinking botox may help, as it would freeze the muscle and stop it from moving.

[fliptheswitch]

I would see your GP before you think about going private, as you've obviously had the operation on the NHS and this has only happened because of that. Whether they will be able to do this, I don't know, but it's worth a shot.