NEED TO KNOW

  • Bristol Palin shared an update on her facial paralysis
  • The 35-year-old daughter of former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin said her face is “not looking great” in an Instagram Stories post on Saturday, Jan. 3
  • Bristol previously revealed that doctors believe she is suffering from Bell’s palsy

Bristol Palin shared an update on the facial paralysis that has affected half of her face for nearly a year.

In a Jan. 3 post on her Instagram Stories, Bristol, 35, shared a clip from a Dec. 9 “Ask Me Anything,” in which an Instagram user inquired whether there was any “progress” on her condition.

“If anyone’s wondering, today’s day 323 of my face being paralyzed,” Bristol said in response to the question.

“Not looking great,” she added, before taking off her sunglasses to show viewers that she is still unable to move half of her face.

Bristol Palin.

Bristol Palin/Instagram

“Not a whole lot of movement,” she continued.

Bristol, the daughter of former Alaskan governor Sarah Palin, went on to share that she eventually plans to treat her left eye with Botox, as “it just gets so small when I smile or when I’m expressive at all.”

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“Could be worse, could be better. At least I’ve got cute sunglasses,” she said at the end of the clip.

Bristol Palin in 2018; Bristol in early 2025.

Astrid Stawiarz/Getty; Bristol Palin/Instagram

The Dancing with the Stars alum’s struggle with facial paralysis began in January 2025, when she revealed on social media that doctors believed she was suffering from Bell’s palsy.

“I woke up nine days ago with a little weird sensation in my face,” she said. “My mouth was pulling this way, and it just felt a little off. So I went, looked in the mirror. I’m like, ‘Wow. This is looking a little weird.’ ”

“Within a couple hours, the entire left side of my face was numb and just paralyzed … Couldn’t really blink my eye. Definitely had no movement on [the left side] of my face. So crazy,” she continued.

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According to John Hopkins Medicine, Bell’s palsy is a sudden paralysis or weakness of the facial muscles, usually on one side of the face. While not considered permanent, it may not “disappear” in rare cases. It usually resolves within six months of the onset of symptoms — a far shorter time than what Bristol has been experiencing.

Steroids, antiviral medications and physical therapy are recommended treatments, and Bristol shared that she’s tried “everything imaginable to resolve this” in a February update.