Transient facial palsy post-subcision for acne scars under tumescent anesthesia: A case report

Atrophic acne scars can be effectively treated with subcision. Well-documented adverse effects of subcision include bleeding, edema, and hematoma. Transient facial nerve palsy is not a reported complication following this procedure. Our case is a male in his early 30s who underwent subcision for rolling acne scars on the left cheek under tumescent anesthesia. Immediate post-procedure examination revealed complete left-sided facial palsy. A short course of oral corticosteroids was prescribed post-procedure, and partial recovery was observed within 6 h, almost complete resolution at 24 h and full recovery was demonstrated at 2-week follow-up. This is the first reported case of transient facial palsy after subcision with tumescent anesthesia. Dermatologists should be aware of this rare but benign and reversible complication to avoid unnecessary alarm and ensure appropriate management, including prompt corticosteroid therapy and reassurance regarding the excellent prognosis for complete recovery.