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The present study was devised to examine possible structural changes in the facial nerve after rerouting. Changes were studied in 20 adult guinea pigs using different stains for the different nerve structures. Animals were anesthetized and the facial nerve rerouted. The animals were then separated into two groups, an "early" group killed after 7 days and a "late" groups after 15 days. The rerouted facial nerve was sectioned and stained to determine what structural changes had taken place. In both groups there were marked changes in the axons, Schwann cells and connective tissue elements, as well as a marked cellular infiltrate. Although these latter changes in the late group were slightly less than in the early group, the reticulin network was much thicker and there was greater disruption of the nerve bundles. These findings show that facial nerve rerouting causes significant structural changes that may persist for variable periods after surgery. Any attempts at facial rehabilitation clinically should be delayed to allow enough time for nerve function to recover.