Chapter 90
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: Treating Facial Paralysis
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I've seen plenty of patients with guanswa—mouth and eye deviation, or what we call facial nerve paralysis.
It's not all that common, but it stands out immediately. And since it affects the face, people can't help but feel a sense of urgency to get it treated.
You might ignore a bit of back pain, figuring it'll sort itself out eventually. But how could you just let your mouth twist and your eye refuse to close?
Almost every patient rushes to a clinic right away, and if they can afford it, they'll try every treatment available.
This hasn't changed from ancient times to now.
Modern society gets criticized for being obsessed with looks, but the past was no different.
Among the four criteria for selecting talent—appearance, speech, writing, and judgment—appearance came first.
That's why I've encountered so many facial paralysis patients desperate for the best doctor, and I've successfully treated them all.
That only boosted my reputation further.
Most cases of facial paralysis are Bell's palsy, and over 90% of those recover fully within six months.
Of course, some don't fully heal and end up with lingering aftereffects.
Either they didn't get proper early treatment, or they did but just had bad luck.
"Divine Physician, please! There has to be something you can do!"
The moment I saw Chae Seonggye, a certain man came to mind.
He was a collateral branch member of the Hebei Peng Clan who had passed the civil service exam.
Right before taking office, guanswa struck, sending him on a tearful search for a renowned physician.
Oh, and "tearful" wasn't just a figure of speech—his eye wouldn't close properly, so the tears really wouldn't stop.
He'd begged his family from the start to pull strings so he could meet me, but due to the subtle power struggles between sects, the request never reached the Tang Family in Sichuan. We missed the window.
If he'd just shown up, I would've seen him right away.
"It's been a full year already..."
With far fewer government posts than successful exam candidates anyway, delaying his appointment due to illness wasn't hard.
He stayed in Sichuan to focus on treatment, and I explored every option.
We started with acupuncture, but there was little improvement.
Herbal remedies to expel wind were too outdated to help, and while they relaxed the muscles enough to close the eye...
The twisted face wouldn't straighten.
I even asked my master if he had any ideas.
"Hmm, I'm not sure. Why not separate the muscles and bones like in bone-setting and put them back together?"
...Isn't that torture?
Rejected, obviously.
After trying various approaches, I recalled a modern treatment I'd learned: thread embedding acupuncture.
'This is pretty similar to that case.'
The goal was the same—restoring balance to uneven facial muscles.
His face looked fine when still, so it was less twisted than the Peng Clan guy's. But the condition had lasted much longer.
"Your taste, smell, and touch sensations are all normal, right?"
"Yes."
Sensory nerves were intact.
"Open as wide as you can: ahh—."
"Ahh—."
"Eee—."
"Eee—."
After closely examining the motor nerves and muscle condition, nothing was completely misconnected.
"Good news: the nerves have mostly recovered. The issue is the muscles have stiffened in their twisted state and need readjusting."
"Yes."
"We'll loosen the rigid jaw muscles and around the mouth with acupuncture and herbal injections, then use thread embedding to lift the cheek and sagging jaw areas. With consistent treatment, we can balance it out."
Chae Seonggye widened his left eye at my words.
Unfortunately, the right side just twisted grotesquely at the forehead.
"What's thread embedding?"
Chae Seonggye asked.
"This is thread embedding acupuncture. You attach dissolvable thread to a needle, insert it, pull the needle out, and leave the thread. It continuously stimulates the meridians, but here we'll use it for lifting support on the muscle fibers."
"Oh, Dad! Aunt got thread embedding cosmetic surgery for her sagging jaw!"
I mainly use it for pain relief or supporting weakened muscles, but as Chae Rira said, beauty-focused clinics use it extensively on the face—enough to coin the term "thread lift."
It boosts skin regeneration and elasticity.
"Exactly. Same principle."
At first, I doubted if thread embedding was feasible in the murim world.
Making and inserting thread wasn't hard... but dissolvable thread? Sterilization?
I lacked the physics and chemistry knowledge beyond high school level.
But if I couldn't, the Tang Family artisans could.
I just suggested using sheep or cow intestines like in my old world, and their competitive spirits ignited—they whipped up dissolvable thread in no time.
"Hahaha! If the Tang Family that makes formless poison can't make mere thread!"
Even in those harsh conditions, I—we and the Tang artisans—succeeded.
"Thank you so much! Now I can hold my head high in the capital. Ha ha ha!"
That man's hearty laugh lit up his refreshed face.
My master waved me off to shoo him away quickly, but I felt incredibly proud.
"Will this treatment really fix it?"
Chae Seonggye said. His twisted face stood out even more as he spoke, having kept words minimal and a stern expression until now.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy.
Even if thread embedding strengthens and supports muscles, it doesn't perfectly balance left and right.
For age-related sagging on both sides, symmetric insertion and lifting works fine. But matching the healthy left side? High difficulty.
Varied lengths of thread, fine adjustments bit by bit.
"'Fix' might be too strong. 100% identical is tough. But I've balanced it to where the difference isn't visible to the naked eye—80-90% success."
"Ah!"
"It'll take time, though. About six months of steady treatment. You'll feel changes at first, then a plateau. Patience there is key."
Still, I was confident.
Training to control every muscle fiber with inner energy for throwing hidden weapons had honed my precision—I could pinpoint the issues.
Given enough time, barring irreversible muscle degradation, I could align nearly everything.
"I've lived with this for 30 years—six months is nothing."
Chae Seonggye touched his right cheek as he spoke.
His hand trembled; even without expression, the pent-up frustration was clear.
"Must've been stressful all these years."
"Hoo... You think?"
Chae Seonggye tilted his head back, reminiscing.
"Failed what I thought was my last exam, got depressed. But what choice? Needed a job to live. Back then, college grads didn't struggle much for jobs. But with this face, interviewers flinched at every word. Still vivid."
"Dad..."
"Even when I pitched my ideas for projects, execs wouldn't let me near meetings. External ones? Forget it. Sigh, at least promotions let me play the stern silent type."
That explained the initial reticence.
Chae Seonggye pressed the jaw muscle I'd pointed out earlier, continuing.
"Regret? Immense. What was the ocean view for? Why go to Incheon that day? Why study for the exam at all! Should've treated it right away instead of turning into a basement philosopher who can't even die..."
"Dad, you thought about suicide?"
"Ancient history. Everyone thinks it once after failing."
Chae Rira teared up—this must've been her first time hearing details.
Even the brief account painted the grueling life from facial paralysis aftereffects.
I had to treat him, show Chae Rira her dad's bright smile.
"So just acupuncture and threads? No herbs?"
"Yes. Unnecessary for shortening facial muscles and balancing. I can prescribe for recovery boost if you want."
"...I see."
Chae Seonggye twitched his left eye, nodding.
"Start today?"
"Yes. Threads every two weeks from now, acupuncture as often as possible—minimum twice weekly."
"Got it. I'll schedule around your days."
"Great. To the treatment room."
His daughter, who'd entered the exam room with him, went to the waiting area. Chae Seonggye was led to the innermost bed.
While I consulted with him, treatments backed up, so he waited with a hot pack as I needled a few others.
"Doctor~ One barbed thread and four standard 38mm ones, please!"
Unlike others who'd gotten straight acupuncture, when Chae Seonggye's turn came, I asked the assistant for threads.
Barbed thread?
I hadn't mentioned that earlier. Just "thread embedding," right?
He shot a puzzled look, so I showed both types and explained.
"Threads come in varieties. This one's barbed for better lift."
"...?!"
The 3cm one I'd shown was standard. The barbed was over twice as long, with actual barbs, as named.
"You put this in the face?"
Honestly, scary.
I'd do it even if it hurt, but how? It looked so long and vicious. Anesthesia first?
"Yes. Quick. Hold on, it's cold."
I nodded, applying something to his face.
"Numbing cream?"
"Povidone—disinfectant."
Ah, the red stuff...
No anesthesia, hopes dashed.
"Going in. Relax your face."
No time to brace—the long needle pierced.
"...!"
Thread? This is thread? Right, with the needle.
Felt like a barbed vine burrowing through, exaggerated maybe. Muscles shattering, but afraid to open mouth and mess up, no scream.
"...!"
"Barbed thread done."
I wiped blood.
That instant felt eternal; cold sweat beaded on Chae Seonggye's face.
Standard threads were a breeze after—slight wince, bearable.
"Now acupuncture."
I densely needled the stiff areas I'd identified.
He'd experienced this before, so easier to endure.
"Stay 20 minutes. Too much? Hit the button!"
Electro-acupuncture connected, buzzing started.
Zzt. Zzt. Zzt. Zzt.
Previous clinic wasn't this intense.
Is this okay? Good choice coming here?
Trusted his daughter and her senior Kim Ijin, but...
Felt like dismantling and reassembling his face.
Time passed; 20 minutes up, released.
Jaw still tingled, though.
"Wait long?"
Chae Seonggye emerged; Chae Rira looked up from her phone.
"Huh? Dad."
"Hm?"
She jumped, dropping her phone.
"Your face!"