Tulisa says she has undergone surgery linked to the condition
Former X Factor judge and N-Dubz singer Tulisa has revealed she is suffering from “minor paralysis” after a “Bell’s palsy attack”. The 37-year-old said she had undergone surgery to remove three cysts causing her facial condition, but said the impact of the surgery and the medication involved had led to the condition flaring up and causing facial paralysis.
She also said that discovering a close friend had been diagnosed with cancer earlier this week had also contributed to her health issue. In a post on Instagram, the former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! contestant, whose full name is Tulisa Contostavlos, said: “The news after post-surgery effects/drugs led me to, and pressure from throwing up, caused a Bell’s Palsy attack.
“Left my steroids in Manny but got some within 24hrs, so minor paralysis will last a week or so. Nothing compared to what my Shelly is going through. Currently in bed recovering nicely from it all.
“Less sob story, more reminder we’re all human, going through challenges, even when it looks shiny from the outside.”
Tulisa also revealed she had given up smoking and spoke about her reproductive health, saying she had “cancelled my recent egg retrieval due to low count”, adding that it was “frustrating, but ok due to previous great success”. She added: “Life isn’t constant happiness, it’s a series of ups & downs that define being alive. It’s up to you to choose your thoughts/perceptions.
“It’s your mind, not the experiences, others’ treatment of you or the past, don’t be consumed by the experiences, be the observer.”
The singer announced late last year that her pop rap group N-Dubz, who had hit songs including Number 1, I Need You and Girls, were due to tour again in 2027. According to the NHS, Bell’s palsy is temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face and can lead to sudden facial paralysis. Treatment with steroids can help and most people get better within six months.
Bell’s palsy is a condition that causes sudden, temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscles on one side of the face. It occurs when the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve), which controls your facial expressions, becomes inflamed, swollen, or compressed.
While the exact cause is often unknown (idiopathic), it is widely believed to be triggered by a viral infection—most commonly the herpes simplex virus (the same virus that causes cold sores). Bell’s palsy is usually temporary. Most people begin to see improvement within two weeks, and about 70–80% of patients make a full recovery within three to six months.
Key Symptoms
Symptoms typically appear suddenly and peak within 48 to 72 hours. Because the facial nerve also affects tears, saliva, and taste, the impact can be broader than just muscle movement:
- Facial Droop: Difficulty smiling or closing the eye on the affected side.
- Eye Issues: Excessive tearing or, conversely, a very dry eye because the eyelid won’t close properly.
- Jaw/Ear Pain: Pain around the jaw or behind the ear on the affected side.
- Sensory Changes: Loss of taste on the front of the tongue and increased sensitivity to sound in one ear.
- Drooling: Due to lack of muscle control around the mouth.
Because Bell’s palsy causes facial drooping, it is often mistaken for a stroke. However, there is a key clinical difference: Bell’s Palsy typically affects the entire side of the face, including the forehead (you cannot wrinkle your brow).
