Facial symmetry has long been associated with beauty and attractiveness in males and females. From drooping eyes and crooked noses to uneven jaws, facial asymmetry can take a toll on one’s self-esteem.
Few people are born with perfectly balanced features, but advancements in cosmetic dermatology can help fix facial asymmetries.
Why is my face asymmetrical?
Facial asymmetry is when the features of your face don’t match and balance out the others. It typically results from having a more or less dominant side. It can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Aging
- Sun damage
- Injury/trauma
- Genetics
- Lifestyle habits (like smoking)
- Health or medical conditions (like stroke)
- Dental work (especially dental extractions and jaw surgery)
- Clenching and grinding teeth may enlarge facial muscles asymmetrically
How to fix an asymmetrical face naturally without surgery?
There are a few options for fixing facial asymmetry without surgery. Examples are:
- Makeup – the play of light and shadow using bronzers, highlighters, and concealers can contour the nose, jawline, and overall face shape to improve facial symmetry.
- Dermal fillers and wrinkle smoothers can help achieve facial symmetry.
- Botox to address asymmetrical facial movement and slim enlarged facial muscles.
Injectables
For minor but noticeable asymmetry issues, Dr. Brunner recommends dermal fillers and wrinkle smoothers, like Botox®, to restore facial contours and enhance facial balance. Fixing facial asymmetry with fillers and Botox is ideal for patients who desire subtle and natural-looking results without committing to permanent changes in their faces.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers, like Juvederm® and Sculptra®, restore volume in the skin, allowing Dr. Brunner to sculpt the face and achieve a balanced and more youthful appearance. Thinner, hydrating fillers effectively even out or augment the lips, while firmer, structural fillers are ideal for redefining an asymmetrical jawline or fixing an uneven face shape. Fillers may also be used to add volume to the cheeks or replenish fat pads in the midface.
Wrinkle Relaxers
Wrinkle relaxers, like Botox Cosmetic, Dysport, and Xeomin, work by blocking nerve impulses to reduce muscle activity. When injected, Botox not only relaxes lines and wrinkles but improves the position and appearance of asymmetrical eyebrows. Botox can weaken the muscle pulling the higher brow up or pulling the lower brow down, effectively providing a non-surgical brow lift. Botox may also be used to reduce the prominence of a patient’s jaw.
Best procedures for correcting facial asymmetry in Princeton, NJ
For permanent results, Dr. Brunner may recommend the following surgical procedures:
Rhinoplasty
Facial asymmetry may be the result of a patient’s nose that has bumps or is too small, large, or crooked. Rhinoplasty, “nose reshaping” or a “nose job,” improves the shape, projection, and proportion of your nose, enhancing facial harmony and balance.
Dr. Brunner surgically sculpts the nasal structure through incisions in the nostrils or the columella (skin separating the nostrils) to:
- Increase or decrease the size
- Alter the shape
- Narrow the nostrils
- Smooth the dorsal hump
- Enhance the nasal projection
Blepharoplasty/Eyelid Surgery
One issue concerning facial asymmetry in the eyes involves having excess skin over one eyelid compared to the other. Blepharoplasty, or eyelid surgery, removes excess skin through an incision. This procedure effectively addresses skin laxity and asymmetry in the upper or lower eyelids to create a more harmonious look.
Facelift
A surgical facelift can effectively address sagging skin and improve facial symmetry. By tightening and lifting the skin, concerns like ptosis can be corrected, resulting in a more youthful and balanced appearance. Through the lifting of both sides of the face, a surgical facelift can enhance facial harmony and bring out your natural beauty.
Otoplasty
Ears that stick out or are uneven, too large, or misshapen can detract from your appearance. Otoplasty (ear pinning) can change your appearance by reshaping the ears while they are re-positioned.
Dr. Brunner creates an incision behind the ear and sculpts the cartilage. The procedure can “pin back” the ears to reduce their protrusion or mold the ears to be in more balanced proportion to the size and shape of your face and head.
Chin Augmentation
A defined jawline gives the face a more aligned, attractive, and refined appearance. For those with a weak or receding chin, a chin implant can enhance the chin and jawline contours. Especially if it is the skeletal structure that is causing facial asymmetry, using an implant may be the best option.
Mentoplasty, or chin implant surgery, involves placing an implant through an incision, typically made inside the mouth or underneath the chin. The implant increases the chin’s shape and projection, creating more angular facial contours and overall facial symmetry.
Schedule a Consultation with Princeton’s Top Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Eugenie Brunner is a double-board certified facial plastic surgeon who is committed to helping patients improve their self-esteem through beautiful and natural-looking results. Utilizing the latest in technologies and the most advanced techniques, coupled with her natural feminine touch, she can customize the best treatment plan to achieve her patients’ goals.
To determine how best to make your face more symmetrical or to learn more about Dr. Brunner’s facial rejuvenation procedures, surgeries, lasers, and other cosmetic services, contact her Princeton, NJ, clinic to schedule a consultation.