50 Faces Project: The Asymmetrical Face

We all know that our faces can’t be naturally perfectly symmetrical and that is completely normal. However, sometimes the difference between the two sides becomes more noticeable or appears unexpectedly and develops over the years. In such cases, these changes may be connected not only with the genetic factors like the natural structure of the skull and soft tissues, but also with daily habits, lifestyle, muscle condition and age-related changes.

That is why today, as part of our 50 Faces Project, we will look at the main reasons why these changes can happen, how they can be improved with professional methods and what you could do at home to help yourself to reduce asymmetry.

What is facial asymmetry?

Facial asymmetry is a difference between the right and left sides of the face in shape, volume or the position of certain features. As we mentioned above, every person has a small degree of facial asymmetry. It is caused by genetics, including the structure of the skull, the development of facial muscles and other individual characteristics.^[1]

It becomes a concern when the difference appears suddenly over a relatively short period of time or gradually becomes more noticeable with age. In some cases, this may be related to disorders of the nervous system, ENT conditions, dental problems, the effects of injuries and other pathologies. In these situations, it is important to see a doctor and receive the necessary treatment. ^[2]

However, much more often we deal with a different cause — an imbalance in the work of the facial muscles. Every day we perform thousands of habitual movements: we smile, chew, talk, sleep and do our daily routine in the same way. Because of it some muscles could become more active, while others work less. As a result, one side of the face may look tighter, fuller or, on the contrary, less defined. With time, this muscle imbalance affects not only facial expressions but also the position of the soft tissues, making the asymmetry more noticeable.

Why does an asymmetry appear in the face?

There are several common reasons why the face can lose its symmetry.

The first reason is incorrect chewing habits. Most people do not even notice that they almost always chew food on only the right or only the left side. Because of this, the chewing muscles receive different amounts of work every day. The more active side becomes stronger and fuller, while the opposite side works much less. Over time, the difference becomes more noticeable. In addition, constant one-sided chewing may affect the temporomandibular joint and cause discomfort or tension in this area.

The second reason is also hidden in everyday habits. A study published in 2014 that included 147 pairs of twins showed that sleeping position is an important risk factor for facial asymmetry.^[3] If a person sleeps mainly on one side for many years, the tissues on that side of the face are constantly under mechanical pressure. At the same time, fluid drainage becomes less effective, morning swelling increases and the muscles and fascia adapt to the same position. Over time, these changes can make natural asymmetry more visible.

Another common cause is the improper function of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for removing excess fluid from the tissues. If lymphatic drainage is reduced in one area, fluid may collect more on one side of the face than the other. Because of this, one cheek, the area under one eye, or one side of the jawline may look fuller. It may seem as if the facial structure has changed significantly, but in reality, the main reason is puffiness. This may appear or become worse because of lack of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle, poor posture or chronic tension in the neck muscles.

That is why, when evaluating a client's face, specialists in Lymface  pay close attention to the main lymphatic pathways, just as they do when treating general facial swelling. They usually assess the collarbone area, the upper chest, the neck, the area under the jaw, the chewing muscles, the cheeks, and the area around the ears. These are the places where fluid movement most often becomes slower.

Home recommendations for asymmetrical face

It is impossible to completely change the structure of your face with home methods. However, healthy daily habits can reduce unnecessary stress on certain muscles and help the tissues work more evenly.

Pay attention to your everyday habits. Try to chew equally on both sides of your mouth. It is also useful to perform simple daily activities with different hands from time to time. For example, brush your teeth with one hand one day and with the other hand the next day, or do the same when brushing your hair. This helps reduce the constant dominance of one side of the body.

Also pay attention to your body position. When standing, try to distribute your weight evenly between both legs. Avoid sitting with one leg crossed over the other for a long time. When driving, hold the steering wheel with both hands to avoid creating constant uneven tension in your shoulders and neck.

Practice a simple exercise. Take your tongue out of the mouth and pull it down to the chin. Look in the mirror and make sure that all the other muscles stay relaxed. Your neck, cheeks, the area around your eyes, and your forehead should not be tense. Hold this position for about 30 seconds or a little longer.

After the exercise, you may feel relaxation under your tongue and in your neck, and you may also notice that your saliva becomes watery. This exercise helps balance the muscles on the right and left sides of the face because the tongue muscles are located along the middle line of the body and play an important role in stabilizing this area.

In addition, relaxing the muscles at the bottom of the mouth may help reduce overall muscle tension in the neck and support lymphatic drainage.