{
  "id": 28188,
  "title": "When one side of your face won’t stop twitching",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/01/when-one-side-of-your-face-wont-stop-twitching",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-01T05:36:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu Health",
    "slug": "the-hindu-health",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/when-one-side-of-your-face-wont-stop-twitching/article71265744.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hemifacial spasm, or HFS, is a condition that I have been treating for over two decades. It is a cruel affliction that doesn't kill or leave visible scars, but can utterly devastate a person's life. Often dismissed as mere fatigue, the initial symptom is a faint flicker around the eye that gradually worsens. As the spasms progress, an involuntary contraction spreads across the face, causing an uncontrolled grimace. This condition is particularly disheartening because people misinterpret the involuntary winking as deliberate or suggestive behavior, leading to social isolation and professional setbacks. Real-life stories of those affected are poignant, from a man falsely accused of staring at a woman to a receptionist losing her career due to the spasms. Despite the availability of a cure, this condition often remains untreated for years, with patients losing precious time. The root cause lies at the base of the skull, where the facial nerve encounters a tiny gap in its protective insulation. If an artery loops against this nerve, it causes nerve damage through a neurovascular conflict. Microvascular decompression (MVD) surgery, which involves moving the artery away from the nerve, is the treatment that can restore the normal function of the facial muscles. Although Botox may provide temporary relief, it is not a cure and only exacerbates the nerve injury. Hemifacial spasm can be treated effectively, but awareness and access to this knowledge are lacking. As a neurosurgeon, my mission is to ensure that everyone suffering from this condition knows that there is a path to being permanently well.",
  "summary": "A hemifacial spasm may seem like a mild condition on paper, but in real life it can derail careers and relationships. Many of those living with the condition do not know that it can be completely cured with surgery. This needs to change",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}