Some amount of facial asymmetry is to be expected as we age and our skin no longer produces as much collagen, an important structural protein found throughout our bodies. However, according to a recent study, certain areas of our faces are more prone to asymmetry than others and could more significantly affect our appearance.
The good news is that facial surgery for asymmetry is generally highly effective and can produce very natural-looking long-term results.
Which Areas of the Face Are Prone to Asymmetry?
Typically, the lower two-thirds of the human face tend to experience the most pronounced asymmetry with age. This includes the “mid-face” area, between your eyebrows and nose, and the “lower-face” area, from your nose to your chin. Another area that can sometimes demonstrate asymmetry is the eyes themselves, with one lid drooping or stretching more than the other, causing the eyes to appear as if they are different sizes.
Your upper-face area, from the top of your eyebrows to your hairline, tends to show the fewest indications of asymmetry as you age. However, that doesn’t mean that this area of the face doesn’t age. Indeed, lines and wrinkles on the forehead, along with a drooping brow, can dramatically change how a person looks over time.
What Can You Do to Improve Facial Asymmetry with Age?
Luckily, there is a wide range of surgical and nonsurgical anti-aging treatments that can help to address facial asymmetry.
- Blepharoplasty, also known as an eyelid lift or eyelid surgery, can help to make your eye area appear more youthful and alert, as well as address any asymmetry concerns.
- A facelift address the mid- to lower-face areas, such as sagging jowls and asymmetry in your cheeks. Many people choose to combine a facelift with other facial plastic surgeries, such as a neck lift or brow lift.
- Nonsurgical dermal fillers such as JUVEDERM® VOLUMA can also help to restore lost facial volume in your cheeks and lips that may be contributing to an asymmetrical appearance.
- Rhinoplasty is not as common for older patients but it still can produce a much more symmetrical look for the face in people over the age of 50. This is especially true for people who have suffered an injury to their nose at some point, though natural breakdown and shifting of the cartilage and tissue in the nose can also cause nasal asymmetry.
Is Perfect Symmetry the Goal?
While we value symmetry as one key aspect of beauty, that doesn’t mean that your goal should be to create a face shape that is perfectly symmetrical from left to right. For one thing, it would be almost impossible to achieve such a result. But more importantly, some degree of asymmetry is actually attractive in a face, and perfect symmetry would very likely look unnatural.
Take a look in the mirror and if you notice a thing or two that you think would make a big difference to how you feel about your facial symmetry, schedule a consult with a facial plastic surgeon.
Author’s Bio
Dr. Waleed Ezzat is board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and an active member of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. He is also an assistant professor at the Boston University School of Medicine, and frequently presents at medical conferences both nationally and internationally.