Bristol Palin, 35, shared a candid update on her ongoing facial paralysis, marking day 323 since the onset, revealing limited facial movement and considering Botox for one eye. Doctors suspect Bell’s palsy, possibly triggered by stress or sleep deprivation, as she continues recovery with acupuncture and humor.
Bristol Palin has been battling her mysterious facial paralysis for an entire year.
“If anyone’s wondering, today’s Day 323 of my face being paralyzed,” Palin, 35, said in video footage taken last month that she posted to her Instagram Stories on Saturday, January 3. “Not looking great.”
She continued, “This is what it looks like. There’s not a whole lot of movement.”
According to Palin, she plans to “eventually” get Botox in one of her eyes as a result.
Bristol Palin Details Facial Paralysis, Says Doctors Believe It’s a ‘Case of Bell’s Palsy’
“It just gets so small when I smile or when I’m expressive at all,” Palin explained. “It’ll be a year in January, could be worse, could be better. At least I’ve got cute sunglasses.”
Palin disclosed in January 2025 that half of her face was paralyzed.
“I woke up nine days ago with a weird little sensation in my face,” she said in a social media video at the time. “My mouth was pulling this way and it just felt a little off. So, I went and looked in the mirror. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is looking a little weird.’”
A few hours later, the Teen Mom alum noticed the left side of her face was “numb and just paralyzed.”
“Couldn’t really blink my eye, definitely had no movement on the side of my face,” she recalled. “So crazy. [I] went to the doctor. They ran tests, they did a CT scan [and] they put me on steroids, put me on other medications. Nothing came back with all the results. They think it’s just a case of Bell’s palsy maybe brought on by stress or lack of sleep.”
She added at the time, “I’m not really sure. There’s nothing that I was super stressed out about, but I think it was brought on by stress.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face.
Bristol Palin Jokes About Trying to ‘Look Pretty Normal’ After Revealing Facial Paralysis
“I’m finally starting to get some of the sensation back. It’s been, like, a little painful the last two days, which is a sign [and a] good indication that it’s getting better, so praise the Lord,” she said. “This has been wild. Also if you know anyone that has any of these symptoms, I would highly suggest going more of the Eastern medicine [route], as well. I’ve been getting acupuncture multiple times and that’s helped speed up the process of recovery tremendously.”
Several months later, Palin revealed in another social media update that she was “handling [the situation] well.”
“I can’t look at pictures of myself,” she said in July 2025, adding that her face is “probably 70 percent back to normal. … I woke up and it was paralyzed, completely out of the blue. No warning. [I] wasn’t sick, didn’t get the v@x, no recent Botox. Just paralyzed.”
Palin still doesn’t have a definitive diagnosis.
“Black skinnies, black long sleeve, same denim shirt I wear all the time, vintage Louis Vuitton,” she captioned a November 2025 Instagram pic, jokingly adding, “And still a crooked face.”
Her candidness has resonated with fans, who have rallied around her, sharing stories of their own health struggles and applauding her for turning a medical challenge into a source of humor and resilience. The journey has also reignited public interest in the condition, with many searching for information on Bell’s palsy and its treatment options.
While the medical community continues to monitor her progress, Palin’s message is clear: she is not just surviving, she is thriving. Her openness about her condition has helped destigmatize facial paralysis and encouraged others to seek early intervention. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of holistic healing, combining Western medicine with Eastern practices like acupuncture.
For fans, her journey is more than just a health update—it’s a reminder of the human spirit’s capacity to adapt, laugh, and find beauty even in the most unexpected places. Her Instagram posts, often laced with humor and self-deprecating wit, have become a source of comfort and inspiration for those navigating their own challenges.
As she continues her recovery, Palin’s fans are hopeful that she will return to full health, and that her story will serve as a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges. Her journey is far from over, but her resilience and humor are already making a lasting impact.
For the latest updates on Bristol Palin’s health journey, stay tuned to onlytrustedinfo.com. We deliver the fastest, most authoritative analysis on the entertainment world’s biggest stories—right when they matter most.
