Facial Artery Ligation

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have been experiencing a feeling of discomfort and pulsation from the facial artery on the left side of my face for about 3 years now. I have been to vascular doctors and when they report nothing wrong with my blood flow they dismiss it like its nothing. I have been dealing with this problem for a long time and I feel like I can’t live my life or function because of it. Apparently most doctors see my problem as nonexistent. But i saw that you had a case study on “Facial Artery Ligation for Prominent Pulsations”. And all thesymptons you described are exactly what I am experiencing. The blood vessel is noticeable on my face. The pulsations are annoying, although not painful, and I feel like it also effects the way I smile. I need advice. You are the ONLY DOCTOR I have researched that seems to know about/ how to fix this problem. Thank you.

A: I certainly have treated multiple patients with prominent and/or symptomatic facial pulsations with facial artery ligation. The case study you have described is a good illustration. Please send me some pictures of your face where the location of the problematic facial vessel is. By your description it is located just to the side of the mouth, just as was described in my case study. That is the facial artery as it crosses up into the face and is the location where it usually bifurcates into the labial artery as it continues to head northward towards the nose. This is the facial artery ligation location that is done.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana