Bristol Palin Opens Up About Year-Long Facial Paralysis Journey
Bristol Palin has been dealing with a mysterious issue causing facial paralysis for a full year.
“If anyone’s curious, today marks Day 323 of my face being affected by paralysis,” Palin, 35, mentioned in video footage she shared on her Instagram Stories last month, on Saturday, January 3. “I’m not looking my best.”
She continued, “This is the current appearance. There’s very little movement.”
According to Palin, she intends to “eventually” receive Botox injections in one of her eyes as a result.
Bristol Palin Details 'Difficult' Facial Paralysis and Gradual Improvement
“It noticeably shrinks when I smile or when I express myself at all,” Palin explained. “It will be a year in January, it could be better, it could be worse. At least I have stylish sunglasses.”
Palin first revealed in January 2025 that half of her face was experiencing paralysis.
“I woke up nine days ago with an unusual feeling in my face,” she said in a social media video at the time. “My mouth was pulling to one side and it just felt a little strange. So, I went to look in the mirror. I thought, ‘Wow, this looks a bit odd.’”
A few hours later, the Teen Mom alum observed that the left side of her face was “numb and completely paralyzed.”
“I could hardly blink my eye, and I definitely had no movement on that side of my face,” she recalled. “It was so surprising. [I] went to see a doctor. They performed tests, they did a CT scan, and they prescribed steroids and other medications. The results didn’t reveal anything conclusive. They suspect it might be a case of Bell’s palsy, possibly triggered by stress or lack of sleep.”
She added at the time, “I’m not entirely sure. There wasn’t anything particularly stressful happening, but I believe it was brought on by stress.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition that leads to sudden weakness in the facial muscles on one side.
Bristol Palin Jests About Trying to Appear 'Normal' Following Facial Paralysis
“I’m finally beginning to regain some sensation. It’s been somewhat uncomfortable the last couple of days, which is a positive sign and a good indication that it’s improving, so thank goodness,” she said. “This has been quite an experience. Also, if you know anyone experiencing these symptoms, I would strongly suggest exploring Eastern medicine approaches as well. I’ve been receiving acupuncture multiple times, and it has significantly helped accelerate the recovery process.”
Several months later, Palin shared in another social media update that she was “managing [the situation] effectively.”
“I can’t bear to look at pictures of myself,” she said in July 2025, adding that her face is “probably 70 percent recovered. … I woke up and it was paralyzed, completely unexpectedly. No warning. [I] wasn’t ill, hadn’t received any vaccinations, and hadn’t recently had Botox. Just paralysis.”
Palin still lacks a definitive diagnosis.
“Dark skinny jeans, dark long-sleeved shirt, the same denim shirt I wear all the time, vintage Louis Vuitton,” she captioned an Instagram photo of her outfit in November 2025, jokingly adding, “And still a slightly uneven face.”
