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This review summarizes common risk factors for poor surgical healing on the face and neck and a generalized approach to treating a delayed healing wound. During the preoperative evaluation patients should be screened for prior irradiation, cigarette or e-cigarette use, chronic steroid use, alcoholism, diabetes, malnutrition, and other chronic medical conditions and medications. Despite the surgeon’s best efforts to prevent poor surgical healing, some wounds may display signs of persistent inflammation. The facial plastic surgeon should be astute in recognizing delayed healing and identifying intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors so that timely intervention can be performed.

This article highlights some of the modern-day advancements in facial reanimation surgery including an update on timing of intervention, modifications to free gracilis muscle transfer as well as novel muscle transfers, treatments for synkinesis, minimally invasive procedures, and treatments for ocular paralysis. We also discuss how machine learning and artificial intelligence have been applied to the facial paralysis population with the hopes of developing a standardized, objective assessment tool for evaluating facial function. Although not yet routinely used among facial nerve specialists, advances in bioengineering have been applied to nerve allografts and synthetic conduits, and several experimental studies to enhance neural regeneration are underway. Lastly, we discuss other novel areas of research including neuroprosthetic devices, artificial muscle, use of fluorescent dyes, and the role of acupuncture, which may ultimately change how we manage patients with facial paralysis in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarizes the challenges and adaptations that have taken place in rhinology and facial plastics in response to the ongoing coronavirus disease-19 pandemic. In particular, the prolonged exposure and manipulation of the nasal and oral cavities portend a high risk of viral transmission. We discuss evidence-based recommendations to mitigate the risk of viral transmission through novel techniques and device implementation as well as increasing conservative management of certain pathologies.