Have you ever noticed one side of your face looking slightly different from the other?
While no one's face is completely symmetrical, for some of us it’s more noticeable than for others.
Whether it’s uneven eyebrows, a crooked smile, or a drooping eyelid, these small imperfections can make us feel self-conscious, right?
In this article, we’ll explore what causes asymmetry in the face, how to identify it, and both surgical and non-surgical options to help you get a more symmetrical face! Let’s dive in.
How to Know if My Face is Asymmetrical
You might be wondering, "Is my face asymmetrical?". First, take a look at a photo of your face, straight-on with natural lighting.
Examine features like your eyes, eyebrows, cheeks, and lips. Does one eyebrow sit higher than the other? Is your nose slightly off-center? Is one side of your jaw wider than the other? Perhaps one side of your mouth curves more when you smile. These are some of the most common signs of face asymmetry that some of us may want to address.
Facial asymmetry can also become more pronounced as we age, due to muscle imbalances or the natural sagging of skin on one side of the face.
Using mirror selfies can help you pinpoint where facial asymmetry is most noticeable. While no face is perfectly symmetrical, understanding the parts of your face with less symmetry is the first step in addressing it.
Why Is My Face Asymmetrical?
Facial asymmetry can stem from various factors, such as genetics, aging, and environmental influences. While some people are born with noticeable asymmetry, others may develop it over time as a part of the natural aging process or certain lifestyle habits.
Genetics and facial asymmetry
Your genes largely determine how your facial features develop. If asymmetry runs in your family, chances are you’ve inherited some of these traits. Small differences in bone structure or muscle development can affect your facial symmetry.
Aging
As you age, your skin loses elasticity, and muscle tone decreases, which can cause one side of your face to droop more than the other. This is particularly noticeable around the jawline, mouth, and eyes.
Lifestyle Habits
Regularly sleeping on one side of your face, chewing on one side more than the other, or habitual facial expressions can create imbalances in your facial muscles over time, leading to asymmetry.
Injury or trauma
If you’ve ever had an injury to your face, even as minor as a broken nose or a severe cut, it could alter your facial structure. Injuries can cause the bones or muscles on one side of the face to heal differently, creating asymmetry.
Fixing Asymmetrical Face with Surgery
If you’re considering a permanent solution to fix an asymmetrical face, plastic surgery might be an option since surgical treatments can address more significant issues related to facial asymmetry.
Facelifts for asymmetrical features
Asymmetry often becomes more noticeable with age, as our skin loses elasticity and gravity takes its toll on one side of the face more than the other.
A facelift can help with these types of age-related asymmetries by lifting and tightening the sagging skin, as advised by a facial plastic surgeon.
By removing excess skin and tightening facial muscles, a facelift can create a more balanced and youthful look.
This solution is ideal for those seeking long-lasting results and a more symmetrical appearance in areas affected by aging.
Chin implants
A weak or uneven chin can create noticeable facial asymmetry, particularly around your jawline.
Chin implants offer a surgical solution to enhance the shape and size of your chin, making it more proportionate to the rest of the face.
Surgeons insert an implant that is either made of silicone or another medical-grade, synthetic material to add structure to the chin, balancing both sides of the jawline.
This procedure can significantly improve facial harmony, particularly when one side of the face is weaker than the other.
Recovery is relatively quick, and the results can make the face appear more symmetrical and defined.
Rhinoplasty
A crooked or off-center nose can disrupt your facial harmony, making one side of your face appear different from the other.
Therefore, a rhinoplasty, commonly known as a nose job, is a popular surgical option to address facial asymmetry. The procedure involves reshaping the nose by adjusting the bone and cartilage.
In this way, a rhinoplasty can bring better balance to your facial features. The surgery is tailored to each individual’s needs, whether that involves narrowing, straightening, or lifting certain areas of the nose.
The results are permanent, and the improved symmetry can have a profound effect on your overall appearance.
Fixing Asymmetrical Face Without Surgical Treatments
If surgery isn’t your preferred option, there are plenty of non-surgical ways to achieve a more symmetrical face. These treatments are non-invasive and can improve facial symmetry over time and with consistent practice!
Mouth Tape
Mouth taping is an effective, natural way to improve facial symmetry, especially when used consistently during sleep.
This is because mouth taping encourages nasal breathing and prevents mouth breathing, which can help tone facial muscles evenly, contributing to a more symmetrical face.
Over time, taping your mouth can help correct imbalances in the muscles around your jaw and mouth. When it comes to comparing the outdated chin strap vs mouth tape, mouth tape comes out on top every time for its convenience and effectiveness.
Check out some of the amazing outcomes here at Mouth Tape Results: Face Shape Before & After.
Beyond facial aesthetics, the benefits of mouth taping for sleep and overall health are incredible, due to its positive effect on the nervous system, cardiovascular wellness, oral health, and more.
The best mouth tape for sleep and facial symmetry is Dream Recovery. Thanks to the use of breathable organic bamboo silk and a specialized hypoallergenic adhesive, it’s both incredibly comfortable and strong enough to stay on all night while being kind to even the most sensitive of skin.
Get your hands on Dream Recovery Mouth Tape now.
Facial Exercises
Facial exercises, sometimes referred to as "face yoga," is a natural way to improve muscle tone and symmetry.
These exercises target specific muscles on both sides of the face, helping to strengthen weaker areas and relax overactive muscles, contributing to improved face symmetry.
For instance, exercises that target the jawline, cheeks, and mouth can improve the balance between the two sides.
Regular practice can lead to noticeable improvements in symmetry over time. Exercises may include jaw clenches, chin curls, or massaging areas where muscles feel tense.
While results aren’t immediate, consistent effort can make your face look more symmetrical without any invasive procedures.
To learn more about some of these exercises head on over to our article on why don’t I have a jawline?
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are a non-surgical solution that can help correct facial asymmetry caused by volume loss or an uneven facial structure.
Fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, can be injected into specific areas of the face that look “sunken” or uneven.
Common areas that are usually treated include the cheeks, chin, and lips. By filling out these areas, dermal fillers can help improve facial balance and make your face appear more symmetrical.
The procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and results can last anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the type of filler used.
While it can offer a quick solution, it’s important to discuss the potential risks of filler migration with your provider before going ahead with this procedure, as this can cause a puffy, swollen look over time.
Contouring to make your face more symmetrical
Makeup contouring offers an easy, non-invasive way to create the illusion of a symmetrical face… No expensive treatments or doctor's appointments are needed!
Using light and shadow techniques, you can enhance the appearance of your facial features and balance out asymmetry.
For example, if one side of your cheekbones appears higher, applying a darker contour shade beneath the lower side can help even them out visually. Highlighters can also be used to draw attention to more symmetrical areas of your face.
While contouring is only temporary, it’s a quick and effective way to improve facial balance for special occasions or everyday wear without the need for other interventions.
Posture improvement
Believe it or not, poor posture can contribute to facial asymmetry over time. Constantly leaning your head to one side, or having poor neck alignment, can strain facial muscles unevenly, leading to imbalances. Makes sense, right?
Correcting your posture, especially in how you sit, sleep, and hold your head, can help address this issue.
Strengthening exercises for the neck and shoulders can also improve alignment, reducing muscle tension on one side of your face.
Maintaining good posture helps prevent further strain on facial muscles, making this a long-term, holistic solution for enhancing facial symmetry naturally (and improving your overall well-being) without surgery.
Botox to correct facial asymmetry
For mild facial asymmetry caused by muscle imbalance, botox injections can offer a quick, non-invasive cosmetic solution.
Botox works by relaxing overactive muscles on one side of the face, allowing it to match up better with the weaker side in terms of muscle tone.
For example, if one eyebrow sits higher than the other, botox can relax the muscles pulling that side up, balancing out the overall appearance.
Another example would be imbalances in the masseter muscles involved in chewing - if one muscle is stronger than the other, that side of your jaw might appear larger than the other. When botox is injected into the masseter muscle, it can help to weaken the muscle, reducing its size over time.
Botox results last several months, making it a good temporary fix for asymmetry.
FAQ
How to align the jaw naturally?
You can align the jaw naturally by using mouth tape while you sleep, practicing nasal breathing, and incorporating facial exercises that improve jaw muscle tone over time.
How do I make my face symmetrical naturally?
To make your face symmetrical naturally, you can try surgical treatments like a facelift or non-surgical interventions like facial exercises, botox, mouth tape, dermal fillers, or contouring with makeup.
How do I fix my asymmetrical face from sleeping?
You can fix your asymmetrical face from sleeping by avoiding sleeping on only one side and alternating or by training yourself to sleep on your back. You can also get a special pillow that applies less pressure to your face if you sleep on your side.
Final Thoughts
Facial asymmetry is something many of us experience, but whether it’s due to genetics, aging, or lifestyle habits, there are numerous ways to address an asymmetrical face.
From surgical options like rhinoplasty and facelifts to non-surgical solutions such as facial exercises, mouth taping, botox, and contouring, you have plenty of choices to help improve facial balance and reduce the appearance of asymmetrical features.
Remember, no one has a perfectly symmetrical face. However, if it’s something you’d really like to work on, the right techniques can help enhance your features and get you feeling more confident in your appearance.
Try Dream Recovery Mouth Tape now for better facial symmetry and deeper sleep.