It would be fair to say that, in the wide and varied world of cosmetic surgery, one of the issues that frequently tops the list of reasons for potential patients reaching out to plastic surgeons is facial asymmetry.
As you might imagine, there are plenty of surgical cosmetic procedures for addressing a problem like this, things as facelifts, brow lifts, facial implants, rhinoplasty, eyelid surgery, and more. For many people with facial asymmetry, however, the idea of going under the knife for surgical procedures just isn’t something that they want to entertain.
This doesn’t mean that you have to suffer in silence, as there are plenty of non-surgical treatments as alternatives to plastic surgery that can be undertaken to solve the aesthetic issue of facial asymmetry.
Courtesy of a Z Cosmetic Health Expert, let’s take a detailed look at the asymmetry of the face, from what it is exactly to all of the various non-surgical treatment options that are available for people who want to improve their self-confidence without the use of extensive facial surgery and invasive procedures.
What Is Facial Asymmetry?
Facial asymmetry is exactly what it sounds like. If you take a photograph of your face or look closely at yourself in a mirror, you will notice that some of your key facial features don’t line up perfectly with each other from one side of the face to the other.
For example, one of your ears might start at a higher point on the left compared to the right, or one side of your nose might have a slightly sharper point than the other side.
Patient Before and After Fillers FCor Facial Asymmetry.
When any of these parts of the face don’t mirror one another perfectly on both sides, this is what is considered to be facial asymmetry.
What is important to remember when it comes to the facial structure is that almost every single person in the world has a degree of asymmetry. Of course, some cases are more noticeable than others, and sometimes those who have more asymmetry than they like will feel compelled to achieve a more symmetrical face through the means of a medically guided treatment plan.
What Causes Facial Asymmetry?
There are various reasons why people might have notable asymmetry in the face and therefore require facial asymmetry treatment. Some of the most common of these reasons to want reconstructive treatment include:
- Injury
Sometimes people have accidents that permanently rearrange their skeletal structure or soft tissue in the face – for example, a broken cheekbone or a fractured jaw.
- Aging
The natural effects of aging can also impact the lines of symmetry on the faces of some people. The slowed-down rate of production of things like collagen that occurs naturally with age means that your facial muscles and jawline will lose a lot of their youthful appearance. This can ultimately lead to some sagging skin and wrinkling. In some situations, this wrinkling or sagging might be more pronounced on one side than the other.
- Smoking
Certain lifestyle factors can come into play when it comes to facial asymmetry, and smoking is one of those factors. Not only do the chemicals and ingredients in smoking work to actively age you, but the repeated motion of smoking can also impact the symmetry of the facial muscles.
- Serious Conditions
Of course, there is also a more ‘serious’ side to asymmetry that can be identified in various health conditions like Bell’s palsy or suffering a stroke.
Non-Surgical Treatments For Facial Asymmetry
So, now that you know what facial asymmetry is and what most commonly causes it, it’s time to dive into the various treatments that can be undertaken to address it. If you don’t want to go down the surgical route and severe augmentation, then keep reading to find out about the numerous non-surgical treatments that are recommended by a Z Cosmetic Health Expert.
Dermal Fillers
If the deviation in your facial symmetry is due to how and where soft tissue sits, then one of the best and easiest ways to address this problem is with dermal filler treatments.
Injectable fillers such as Juvederm and Botox can be used to even out the features of an asymmetrical face.
It is important to remember that injectable treatments are not a permanent fix to any problem, so dermal fillers will have to be topped up from time to time to maintain the new symmetry that you have achieved.
Jawline fillers on a male client.
These fillers can be used to add volume and definition to the jawline, cheek area, and nose area, or even to help raise one eyebrow that might be sitting lower than the other on one side of the face.
A rather agreeable upside of dermal fillers is that while being used to address facial asymmetry, the treatment will also have a positive anti-aging impact on your face, tightening up the fine lines and wrinkles to restore some of the youthful appearances that you might have lost over the years.
Facial Exercises
Facial exercises are the option with the greatest accessibility because they can be done anywhere at any time by anyone and do not require a treatment plan of any kind.
If most of the asymmetry that you experience is through a lack of definition in the facial muscles in a certain area, then doing targeted exercises for those parts of the face can help to even out the overall aesthetic.
There are various ‘mouth pieces’ that you can buy that encourage you to chew in certain ways or that hold your jaw in certain positions. These devices “train” the muscles to give them more definition and make them stronger.
Just like dermal fillers, facial exercises are not a permanent fix and to maintain the definition you achieve, the exercises will need to be continued. If you stop the exercises, just like with any other part of your body, then you will lose the muscle growth you have attained. You should think of these facial exercises just like any other part of your workout regime. Keep it up and the results will continue to show.
Eyelid Tape
If you want to avoid blepharoplasty or even the smallest invasive procedures like injections for dermal fillers, then you might be more interested in ‘crafty’ tips to help, and eyelid tape is one of the craftiest tips around!
Eyelid tape is a type of cosmetic aid that you can find in any good makeup store or cosmetic section of a pharmacy. With a few small strips, you can manoeuver your facial muscles in such a way that both sides become instantly symmetrical.
Eyelid tape can be particularly helpful for somebody who might suffer from Bell’s palsy or the aftermath of a stroke. If one side of the face is drooping slightly lower than the other, a few strips of tape in strategic places can help to lift that side to create a better line of symmetry.
It might take a bit of testing and experimenting to get the right tension for your face, but once you perfect the method, eyelid tape is a fantastic non-surgical and instant option.
Makeup
Do not underestimate the power that a simple application of makeup can have on your face! No matter if you are a man or a woman, the use of cosmetic makeup to contour certain parts of the face can have a huge impact on the overall look of your facial symmetry.
In the most impressive cases, a good nose contour can have the visual effect of a nose job, or a good jawline contour can almost look like you have undergone liposuction in that specific area!
Just like the eyelid tape, makeup for asymmetry of the face is something that you will need to practice and perfect, but when you get it right, it can give you a whole new world of confidence that you never had before.
Note of Caution
As a Z Cosmetic Health Expert, I am unable to guarantee that any of these procedures will achieve the results you desire.
The results of any of these methods will vary from person to person. None of them is a permanent fix to facial asymmetry.
If you want to avoid any medical intervention of any kind, try facial exercises, makeup contouring, and eyelid tape first. You may find these will deliver results you can happily live with. If not, dermal fillers are your next-level option.
To find more information on how Z Cosmetic Health can help you achieve Facial Asymmetry, schedule a consultation with Dr. Zadeh today!