How to correct facial asymmetry: two gymnastics against asymmetry

Facial asymmetry is a human condition in which the symmetry of the facial part of the skull is disturbed.
Asymmetry may appear due to injury or be congenital. Most often, facial asymmetry is a specific case of violation of symmetry in the human body.

With a slight deviation, this is considered the norm, since there are no absolutely ideal faces. For some people, this phenomenon can cause discomfort, an inferiority complex and even nervous disorders. Some people, having minor deviations from the norm, consider them a pathology.

Facial asymmetry

The following parts are most often affected by facial asymmetry

• 
  Brows.

  Read also:  What to do if the upper eyelid droops after Botox?
  If you're a people watcher, you've probably noticed that most people have slight eyebrow asymmetry. This is typical for 70% of the entire world population. And only in 10% does it stand out so much that it requires correction.

• 
  Folds of the nasolabial area.

  This type of asymmetry may be an individual feature due to the specific structure of the muscles, or perhaps due to injury. This problem is also easy to correct.

• 
  Nose.

  As in the above case, almost no one notices such a small deviation from the norm. If your nose is too noticeably slanted to one side, which spoils the beauty of your face, this should be corrected.

Pathology and norm

These two conditions are very easy to distinguish.

As you can understand, the norm can be characterized by a small difference, and when comparing two parts of the face, the differences are almost invisible.

Usually on the left side the facial features are more feminine, smoothed, and they stand out because they are elongated vertically.

The right side is in almost all cases wider and more masculine, and the features on this part of the face are sharper.

There is even a scale of indicators that can be used to diagnose facial asymmetry. It states that ideally the proportional difference should not exceed 2-3 mm, or 3-5 degrees.

In much more complex cases, the symptoms of facial asymmetry manifest themselves much more strongly. For example, if a person had a damaged nerve on his face, then in the half where it is located there may be the following signs :

• 
  The eyelids begin to sag, the corner of the mouth droops. This happens because the facial muscles have weakened.

• The folds that all healthy people have in the nasolabial part of the face and in the forehead area disappear.
• The palpebral fissure increases in width.
• Everything changes towards a “suffering” facial expression.
• The eye cannot close completely.
• The ability to wrinkle your nose and forehead disappears; it is impossible to raise your lip.

Then speech problems begin, much less often with nutrition. The above symptoms can sometimes be accompanied by pain.

Causes

There are congenital and acquired factors that provoke this kind of deformation. The first appear immediately after birth or in the first months of life. Appearance becomes disproportionate due to defects in the structure of the bones of the skull and face, underdevelopment of the lower jaw, and insufficient muscle tone. Acquired ones are a consequence of external factors, including injuries and hypothermia.

Dental problems

Dentists never tire of repeating that the loss of a tooth, and especially several, is also a serious aesthetic problem. The connection between a full set of teeth and a beautiful oval face is the most direct. After tooth extraction, the bone partitions from which the tooth socket was formed gradually dissolve, and a dent forms on the jaw. At the same time, the jaw is deformed, slightly decreasing in height and diameter. This leads to tension in small facial muscles and the formation of new wrinkles or the deepening of old ones. If several teeth are missing in the lower jaw, the angle of its location may change, and the soft tissues of the face may shift, forming wrinkles and creases. Timely prosthetics will help avoid jaw deformation and maintain beautiful facial contours. Artificial analogues of teeth will not allow the jaw to decrease in size and will support the functioning of the chewing muscles and jaw joints.

Treatment

To make sure that surgery or drug therapy is not needed to correct the defect, you need to visit a neurologist and dentist. If there is an acute pathological process, you should consult a surgeon. If the defect appeared recently and is not very noticeable, and doctors have not identified any health pathologies, the asymmetry may not be corrected. There is a chance that a small defect will go away on its own if you watch your facial expressions.

If you don’t know what to do about facial asymmetry, pay attention to the presence of specific reasons that influenced the appearance of defects in appearance. It is necessary to eliminate them first. If you have malocclusion, visit an orthodontist to build up bone tissue. If the lack of appearance is caused by neuritis of the facial nerve, you should consult a neurologist. In the future, you need to take prescribed medications to relieve inflammation, following the doctor’s recommendations. People who do not require therapy to correct asymmetry can take advantage of special gymnastics and cosmetology services.

Disproportional face in children

A disproportionate face in children is not always a sign of pathology; before the age of 12 months, doctors generally do not recommend paying attention to this nuance in appearance. But after a year, if the asymmetry persists and is clearly visible, it is worth turning to specialists for help - the sooner corrective measures are taken, the better the final result will be.

Asymmetry in children belongs to the group of congenital ones and can be caused by:

• uneven, with disturbances in the development of facial bones in utero;
• incorrect presentation of the fetus;
• complex entanglement of the umbilical cord;
• the use of obstetric forceps during childbirth causes injury to the facial nerve;
• muscle spasms;
• complicated childbirth with incorrect position of the fetus - bone deformation occurs during the passage of the birth canal.

Damage to the facial nerve due to birth trauma (before and after treatment)
In newborns, facial disproportion can be caused by regular attacks of epilepsy. This condition is difficult to diagnose because the newborn is not able to talk about the problem, and convulsive seizures are regarded as imperfect coordination of movements.

If we talk about acquired facial asymmetry in a child, it can develop against the background of:

• birth injuries - very fast, or vice versa - protracted, childbirth, delay in pregnancy, fetal hypoxia;
• congenital torticollis – during childbirth the baby injured the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and during pregnancy the fetus suffered an intrauterine infection;
• acquired torticollis - toys were hung or placed in the bed on only one side, so the newborn was forced to use only one side of the body in examining them.

Facial asymmetry due to malocclusion
In older children, a disproportionate face may be associated with:

• jaw injuries;
• malocclusion;
• lack of teeth;
• inflammatory processes in nerve processes.

We recommend reading about plastic surgery options for the face and neck. From the article you will learn about the types of plastic surgery and indications for its implementation, when reconstructive plastic surgery of the face and neck is indispensable. And here is more information about the effectiveness and results of using Botox for the face.

How to correct facial asymmetry without surgery using facial gymnastics?

To get the expected effect from the exercises, you need to perform them for at least 10 minutes daily. Thanks to gymnastics, you can improve the condition of the skin and remove the double chin. During the exercises, you should actively use the facial muscles; the position of the body does not matter: you can sit, stand or lie. If you don’t know how to correct facial asymmetry, start with facial exercises.

The most effective exercises:

• Close your eyes. Move your eyebrows up and down as wide as possible. As you raise your eyebrows, try to imagine that you are surprised. Repeat the steps 10 times in a row, and then rest for half a minute.
• Inhale enough air to fill your cheeks, close your eyes, straining your eyelids. Repeat at least 10 times. This exercise can also be done when your eyes are tired, as it is useful for both facial expressions and vision.

• Take a breath into your mouth, then exhale sharply. Concentrate on your cheekbones, tensing them. Repeat at least five times.
• Take turns drawing air into your right and then into your left cheek. Continue the exercise for 1-2 minutes.

• Open your mouth slightly, then stretch your lips so that your teeth show a little. Then say “ah” in a drawn-out manner. Then smile quickly. Repeat all steps in order 15 times.
• Open your mouth, move your lower jaw to the right and left, stretching the muscles as much as possible. But don't let yourself feel uncomfortable. Concentrate not only on the facial muscles of the face, but also the neck. Do this exercise for 1-2 minutes.
• Open and close your mouth. Do this 10 times, relax. Return to this exercise 2-3 times a day.
• Open your mouth, breathe in and hold this position for a few seconds. Then exhale and close your mouth.
• Press your upper lip so that it is under your lower lip, pulling the latter as far as possible. Then do the exercise again, but change the position. That is, the lower lip should be under the upper. Repeat in the exact sequence at least 25 times. Concentrate on the chin area. This exercise helps to effectively combat the problem of asymmetry of the oval of the face.
• Close your eyes. Then close your eyes tightly, then relax your eyelids. Repeat the exercise 20-30 times.

• Look alternately up, down, right, left. Then perform circular motions along and counterclockwise. You can spend 2 minutes on this exercise. Maximum execution time is 5 minutes.
• Perform eyebrow movements. First, frown, concentrating on the muscles of your forehead. Raise your eyebrows up and down. By spending no more than 2 minutes a day on these actions, you can smooth out the upper segment of your face.
• Inhale through your left nostril, closing your right, hold your breath for 10 seconds, then exhale. Repeat this exercise with the other nostril. Continue repeating this for a minute.
• Roll your tongue into a tube, but leave it in your mouth, clench your jaw, smile. You need to stay in this position for 20-30 seconds. Repeat steps 5-7 times.

Facial deformation and variants of its manifestation

Facial deformation (distortion, asymmetry of the eyes, eyebrows, cheekbones, nose) can occur in different directions, its specific types can guide the doctor in making a preliminary diagnosis and selecting the necessary examinations, then effective methods of correction, including surgical options for solving the problem, removing the causes medicines.

Facial distortion

Facial distortion most often occurs with peripheral damage to the facial nerve against the background of its inflammation. Such changes in appearance develop “suddenly and immediately”, so visits to the doctor are made urgently.

Diagnosis of damage to peripheral nerves should be carried out with the differentiation of stroke - with this pathology, a disruption of the functioning of the same nerve is observed, but according to the “central type”. You can determine what exactly caused the sudden distortion of the face yourself:

• during a stroke, a person can close his eyes tightly, while a peripheral lesion prevents this from happening (the eyelids do not close);
• if the victim is able to “pull” his eyebrows as tightly as possible, then we will be talking about an emergency cerebrovascular accident (stroke);
• sagging of the corners of the mouth and the inability to smile fully on the affected side are a characteristic sign for both pathologies.

Peripheral and central paralysis of the facial nerve
If there is a suspicion of a stroke, the patient should be in bed, and an ambulance team should be called to the house. Any movements, especially walking or riding vehicles without special devices, are contraindicated for him - a full-fledged hemorrhage in the brain can occur, and complete paralysis can occur.

Eye asymmetry

Asymmetry of the eyes can manifest itself in strabismus, the location of one higher in relation to the other. Most often this problem occurs against the background of:

• disorders in the jaw area - incorrect structure of the lower part (or previous injuries), problematic bite, absence of several teeth;
• neurological diseases, damage to the facial nerves by inflammatory and infectious diseases.

During diagnosis, the ophthalmologist will definitely check the patient’s level of vision and measure the proportions of the entire face. Pathological deviations are considered to be the difference between the location of the palpebral fissures of 3 mm and 5 degrees.

Eye asymmetry (before and after blepharoplasty)

Since eye asymmetry can appear against the background of rapid growth of a malignant tumor, a consultation with an oncologist will be required after the presence of a formation in the cranial cavities is detected.

In addition to visual examination, hardware methods are also used for diagnosis - in this case, magnetic resonance imaging of the face and x-ray of the skull will be informative.

One eyebrow is higher than the other: how to fix it

The situation where one eyebrow is higher than the other can be corrected through surgery, but here it is required extremely rarely, only in particularly advanced cases. Usually, doctors first carry out diagnostic measures, then prescribe a course of therapy (if any disease such as inflammation of the facial nerve has been identified) and only after that they recommend using the services of experienced cosmetologists and makeup artists.

Eyebrow asymmetry corrected with makeup

In fact, such asymmetry is a normal phenomenon that is rarely associated with pathological processes. But one eyebrow can be located higher than the other due to inflammation of the facial nerves and congenital strabismus.

Often, the disproportionate location of the eyebrows indicates a person’s physiological habits - for example, when surprised or very excited, he raises one eyebrow, chews food only on one side of the jaw, constantly squints with a low level of vision.

Asymmetry in the cheekbones

Asymmetry in the cheekbones may appear due to:

• Missing teeth. The fact is that tooth loss leads to the resorption of bone partitions and the formation of a dent. As a result, the facial muscles become tense, which makes the face in adults disproportionate. If the lower jaw is missing several teeth, then the soft tissues of the face are displaced due to changes in the angle of the bones.
• The habit of chewing food on only one side of the jaw . The load on the muscles is distributed unevenly; toned (overstressed) muscles simply pull on one side of the face. Asymmetry in the cheekbones especially often appears in those people who love chewing gum.
• Night rest in a position on your stomach or side . The tissues adjacent to the pillow are constantly under strong pressure and very slowly begin to deform. One cheek becomes larger than the other, the oval of the face changes.

Before and after treatment by a dentist
The problem may lie in the progression of neurological pathologies, inflammation of the facial nerves, injuries and fractures, and improperly performed plastic surgeries.

Nasal asymmetry

Asymmetry of the nose can manifest itself in the form of irregularly shaped nostrils or their different sizes, deviation of the tip of the organ from the midline. The reasons are:

• individual features of the anatomical structure of the nasal septum;
• problems in the intrauterine development of the skull bones - for example, the appearance of a “cleft lip” or “cleft palate” defect;
• unsuccessful rhinoplasty;
• mechanical injury.

Before and after rhinoplasty
Severe nasal asymmetry affects breathing, so in such cases doctors strongly recommend surgical intervention and improve the condition and functionality of the respiratory system.

One side of the jaw is larger than the other

Most often, one side of the jaw becomes larger than the other for mechanical reasons - missing teeth or bone injuries (displaced fractures). This type of asymmetry can also be caused by a tumor developing in the soft tissues of the chin or cheeks.

The disproportion of the lower part of the face entails a skew of its other parts - one cheekbone is visually located higher/lower than the other, one of the eye slits may be narrower, and so on.

Hemifacial microsomia (before and after surgery)

Asymmetry of the lower jaw

Asymmetry of the lower jaw is its skew to one side, which can be obvious (visible to the naked eye) or hidden (visible only from below). The causes of the problem may be sleeping on one side of the face, incorrect posture, and the habit of chewing food in a “one-sided” order. Sometimes a crooked jaw indicates the development of a pathology such as partial paralysis, inflammation of the facial nerves, or tumor growth in the soft tissues.

The jaw can be corrected surgically if the cause of the problem is mechanical damage to the bones. In some cases, it is enough to treat the pathology (tumor removal, anti-inflammatory therapy, dental prosthetics) and resort to cosmetic procedures to straighten the facial contour.

Watch this video about the causes and treatment of facial asymmetry:

Asymmetrical smile

An asymmetrical smile is a sign of a neurological disease. Most often, doctors use it to diagnose inflammation of the facial nerves, but be sure to rule out a stroke. The solution to the problem is to carry out full treatment of the underlying disease, correction of soft tissues with fillers and Botox injections.

The latter applies only if the incorrect smile arose more than 6 months ago, and the person simply did not seek qualified medical help about this.

Lip asymmetry

The causes of lip asymmetry are:

• features of the anatomical development of this part of the face;
• trauma to the upper or lower jaw;
• myasthenic syndrome;
• cerebrovascular accidents;
• inflammatory processes in the nerves;
• neuropathies of various origins.

The choice of treatment method depends on the cause of the defect, but surgical intervention is only appropriate if there is a history of jaw trauma, after which the bones were not fused correctly. The most commonly used cosmetic procedures are:

• injection of hyaluronic acid into the upper or lower lip;
• using threads to correct nasolabial folds;
• manual therapy;
• botulinum therapy.

Injecting filler into the lips

Cosmetology procedures

Among cosmetic procedures for correcting an asymmetrical face, mesotherapy is most often offered, in which hyaluronic acid or other components are administered subcutaneously. These injections are necessary to fill the volume in those areas where unevenness is found, so that both sides of the face become equal.

If it is not possible to correct facial asymmetry with mesotherapy, cosmetologists offer other procedures. For example, softlifting (performed in a similar way to mesotherapy) and botulinum therapy.

Cosmetic procedures cannot be performed if there are problems with the hematopoietic organs, epilepsy, during pregnancy and lactation. To correct minor irregularities, one procedure is enough. The effect will last for a long time, but significant deformations will have to be corrected through a course of procedures.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of this pathology does not cause difficulties. A visual examination is enough for the doctor. Special measuring instruments have been developed that can be used to determine the severity of the defect. The doctor collects data on facial injuries, previous inflammatory processes, and dental diseases. If there is a suspicion of neuralgia, then additional studies are carried out with the involvement of a neurologist. Diagnosis can also be made based on skull x-ray data.

Botulinum therapy

One of the following substances is injected under the skin:

• Botox;
• Dysport;
• xeomin.

In small quantities, they are harmless; with their help, you can not only level out imperfections in appearance, but also provoke the production of large amounts of collagen. The duration of one procedure depends on the volume of problem areas and their size. It usually takes no more than 5-7 minutes to process one segment. The result is not noticeable immediately after the procedure, but after a few days.

If you want to learn how to hide facial asymmetry and not remember about it, an excellent solution would be to perform 2-4 sessions of botulinum therapy per year. The procedure is contraindicated for people who are allergic to the substances used, have infectious processes, or are taking medications that affect blood clotting.

Possible complications

The consequences depend entirely on the underlying cause of the anomaly and the timeliness of contacting a doctor. In some cases, the problem can be eliminated without a trace with a quick cosmetic procedure or a light bite correction.

In others, if the problem is ignored for a long time, it can result in significant destruction of the temporomandibular joint, with no guaranteed hope for a complete restoration of its function.

Thirdly, create a serious threat to life itself (in case of malignant tumors).

Only a doctor can give an accurate answer to the question about the consequences of pathology after a thorough examination. In any case, the only correct action for the patient will be to consult a doctor as quickly as possible when a pathology is first detected.

Thread lifting

This procedure is used in cases where a person complains of asymmetrical eyebrows, cheeks or cheekbones. Thanks to this procedure, facial asymmetry can be quickly corrected. There are different threads to choose from. Some dissolve over time, others do not, and combination options are also available. The threads are placed into the soft tissue with a needle, which is then removed. The specialist forms the frame in order to remove minimal asymmetry.

Pain may occur during the procedure, so it is performed after pain relief. Usually special gels are used as analgesics. The results last for at least a year. In some cases, it lasts for a year and a half if self-absorbable materials are used. When using non-absorbable threads, the results last a lifetime. This procedure is offered for severe facial asymmetry.

Habit of sleeping on one side

Sleep, as you know, is a necessary condition for beauty. However, if you are used to sleeping on one side, you risk losing your beauty while sleeping. The fact is that the tissue on the side of your face, with which you press against the pillow, slowly but inevitably deforms. The oval gradually changes, a network of small wrinkles forms around the eye, deeper folds lie between the eyebrows, and vertical lines form on the cheeks and chin. As cosmetologists say, if you prefer to sleep on one side, then it will quickly become clear which one. The best way to avoid asymmetry and wrinkles while sleeping is to eliminate any contact between your face and your pillow. You can do this by training yourself to fall asleep lying on your back. This way you will not only avoid prolonged pressure on the muscles and skin, but also maintain normal fluid flow throughout the night.

Non-injection biorevitalization

The procedure uses laser and hyaluronic acid. This substance is injected under the skin by heating. The procedure is carried out very quickly, but is characterized by pain. Before the session, the skin is treated with an anesthetic gel in those places where asymmetry is visible. One session lasts approximately 15-25 minutes. Non-injection biorevitalization is not recommended for people with infectious diseases, during pregnancy and lactation, as well as in case of detection of neoplasms. The effect of the procedures is noticeable after 2-3 sessions.

It is possible to solve the problem of facial asymmetry without surgery if you regularly use special gymnastics. If necessary, it is supplemented with cosmetic procedures. To prevent the recurrence of asymmetry, it is necessary to regularly visit the dentist, promptly treat infectious diseases, and also reduce the risk of inflammation of the cranial nerves, avoiding colds and injuries.

The essence of pathology

Pronounced signs of asymmetry can make a person feel inferior and cause psychological problems. In severe cases, the psyche is so severely traumatized that the person feels like an outcast, a freak and withdraws into himself, although at the same time he may look like an ordinary person. The fact is that many people tend to be too critical of their appearance, finding non-existent flaws in it and suffering from it.

Since this condition can cause quite serious problems with a person’s mental state, facial asymmetry requires in-depth study. In addition, a person is an organ of social significance and cannot be underestimated.