(+27) 82 511 8212
About Facial Palsy SA
Facial Palsy South Africa (Facial Palsy SA) is a patient-centred initiative dedicated to the care, education, and rehabilitation of individuals affected by facial nerve disorders and movement impairments. We offer clinical support to people living with facial palsy and partner with healthcare professionals to ensure that every patient receives holistic, coordinated care from diagnosis to recovery.
At Facial Palsy SA, we work with a wide range of facial movement concerns, from sudden-onset paralysis to chronic, complex neuromuscular disorders. Our approach is rooted in compassion, evidence-informed practice, and strong collaboration across medical disciplines.
Not only do we provide specialized clinical support to people living with facial palsy, but we also work closely with healthcare professionals to ensure every patient receives holistic, coordinated care from diagnosis through recovery. Our team actively collaborates with other healthcare providers and supports other practitioners involved in facial palsy management, fostering a unified approach that prioritizes the best possible outcomes for every patient.
-5_JPG.jpg)
Our Founder
Carianne Vermeulen
Carianne Vermeulen is a passionate and highly experienced speech-language therapist with 20 years of clinical practice spanning the educational, public, and private healthcare sectors. She specializes in the assessment and treatment of acquired neurogenic speech, language, cognitive-communication, and swallowing disorders, as well as voice disorders. She has a particular clinical interest in the management of peripheral facial nerve palsies.
Carianne graduated cum laude with her undergraduate degree from Stellenbosch University in 2005 and completed her master’s degree cum laude in 2010. She entered private practice part-time in 2009 and transitioned to full-time private work in 2011.
In recent years, Carianne has expanded her scope of expertise by becoming a certified facial therapist through Facial Therapy Specialists International. Her advanced training includes certifications in the multidisciplinary approach to the assessment and treatment of facial paralysis, neuromuscular retraining for peripheral facial nerve disorders, delinking synkinesis, and the use of botulinum toxin for the management of synkinesis. She has completed in-person training with internationally respected facial therapy experts Jackie Diels and Susan Rankin, as well as hands-on clinical training at the multidisciplinary facial clinics at UW Health University Hospital in Madison, and the Centre for Facial Nerve Disorders at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.
Carianne offers in-person treatment in Cape Town, with sessions available in Bellville, Brackenfell, and Sunningdale. Online video conferencing is highly effective for facial rehabilitation and therefore her services are also accessible to support facial palsy patients across South Africa and internationally.
Driven by a deep commitment to improving care for individuals affected by facial nerve disorders, Carianne is the founder of Facial Palsy South Africa, an initiative dedicated to specialized treatment, education, and advocacy in this field.
Our Vision
Our vision is to ensure that every person with a facial nerve condition has access to expert, compassionate, and coordinated care. We aim to raise awareness of facial palsy and related conditions, improve access to services, and educate both patients and clinicians across South Africa and beyond.
