United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have never been very photogenic. Although you’d probably say Im a decent looking guy, I always tend to cringe at most photos that capture the side of my face with BP. I feel the side of my face, w/out BP, is chiseled and defined, and that the other side is less defined, chubbier, and that side’s eye shape is slightly different which gives that side a totally different appearance than the other. You probably wouldn’t notice this if you met me but I am seeing this in all my recent photo’s of myself and driving me crazy and making me self conscious…=( I even find that I have to try slightly harder to smile on that side, as if it’s not natural. Does anyone feel the same or have this problem? Am I just an exception?

Ops! I had a double post and don't know why?

I have the same thing. It's called Horner's Syndrome and is caused by and injury to T1. When I was little I notice that one eye was smaller but my Mom just said it only showed when I was tired. She also said it's from my father's side of the family.
He died when I was ten so it made sense to me. My Mom also said I had a cute crooked smile... It was not until I was around 50 that I notice a real change to my face and thought I had a minor stroke because on side of my face seemed so different. It was the fact that one side is more aged then the other due to paralysis. That side of my face does not sweat and my pupil does not dilate as quickly as the left side. I know several obpi/adults who have T1 injury and we all have the same issues. It should be noted on your medical records in case of emergency because you will not have equal pupil dilation and emergency personnel will think you have head trauma.

Hope this help you to understand what is going on with your face.
Most people will never notice it and may think your smile is cool.

BTW welcome to UBPN message boards.

WELCOME to our UBPN Family "drunkinemu"!
There is alot of information about Horner's Syndrome on this web site too, and if you click on to read all of Kath's posts, or, "Search" Forums and type in Horner's Syndrome, all posts on the subject will come up for you.

We are a Family of Informed, Caring , Experience Support. There is no such thing as a dumb question and everyone is welcome on all forum message boards. Knowledge is Power and very Healing...VENTING is too!

Carolyn J/ 71

Bless you Kathleen! You learn something new every day and I had no idea that’s what it is. Makes total sense. Do you feel the difference between your eyes? I have found lately, due to new strain in my neck from a bad car accident, as if that eye is worsening. It feels slightly more strained while I am on the computer and I am starting to see weird squiggly lines moving around. Weird..

Got to an opthamologist and explain that you believe that a T1 injury during birth caused the Horner's. Have him check you eyes for focus. My right eye has been strained more but when i was young I did not notice much.

It was only when I got older that I noticed that my face was not aging on the right side as much as on the left side. The crooked smile...LOL... If I'm very tired you can see the droopy eyelid... aging does wonders for us... LOL... I'm sure your much younger so don't let this take control of your ego... I never did, I did not think it effected my looks. I was always more concerned because I was a redhead with freckles... LOL.. Even that changed when I got older and then I did not mind it.

Being different is something we could focus on If we allow it to happen and then we fail to reach our full potential. People don't notice as much as we think they do. We tend to be our own worst critics. We tend to be more aware of what others can do and we can't. Others often don't realize we can't do what they can do automatically. Positive attitude helps us through this maze of bpi.

My right-side eye lids do not open fully on their own. That's where I suffered BP in my right arm.
I think i'm the only person who notices the difference. Just wanted to chime in.