Nothing in nature is perfectly symmetric. All faces have some degree of asymmetry. However, more pronounced asymmetry may become bothersome and in severe cases, are indicative of an underlying syndrome. Facial asymmetry can result from congenital problems, trauma, or a prior surgery or treatment.
In some cases, asymmetry may affect not only the form, but also the function of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Often, the lower jaw is uneven with the rest of the face, which may be corrected with orthognathic surgery. Other problems may include cheek retrusion (backward displacement), eye displacement, eyebrow lowering, forehead and brow bone protrusion, or retrusions and nasal deviations.
Your doctor will make a thorough examination of your face, using photos and imaging for diagnosis and treatment planning. Together, you’ll discuss in detail your doctor’s recommendations and suggested treatment process. Depending on the issues to be corrected, multiple surgeries may be needed to achieve the desired results. Correction may require moving bone (osteotomy), adding bone (bone graft), adding a facial implant (alloplastic implant), reducing bone, adding soft tissue, or reducing soft tissue (through liposuction) to create a more symmetrical result. Fat grafting may also be helpful in improving soft tissue results.