Asymmetry of the face (eyes, lips, jaw, nose): causes, photos, how to fix

The asymmetry of both parts of the body is an absolutely common genetic phenomenon that literally all people have to a greater or lesser extent. Sometimes the differences in both sides of the human body are completely unremarkable and do not cause discomfort. But in addition to the asymmetry of the left and right parts of the body, each person also has facial asymmetry: the difference lies only in the fact that in one person it is completely insignificant, while in another it has a pronounced shape.

Symptoms of pathology

An asymmetrical face is a standard physiological phenomenon, which is characterized by a slight difference between the left and right sides. The difference is often small: 3 mm error. But there are times when the differences are visible instantly and here it is important to understand the main symptoms of the ailment that has arisen and the differences between deviations from the "norm".

The pathological manifestation of the disease (obvious asymmetry of the left and right sides of the face) is accompanied by such obvious symptoms and signs as:

• weakness of facial expressions;
• difference in the size of the palpebral fissure (eye asymmetry);
• difficult movements of the facial muscles;
• difficulty in facial expressions, articulation and speech functions;
• discomfort when eating;
• painful sensations of the facial nerve.

In childhood, obvious symptoms are an excessive tilt of the head to the affected side, as well as a smaller angle of inclination of the jaw (crooked jaw).

Asymmetry in a child:

With this in mind, it is very easy to distinguish between pathology and the norm. In ordinary cases, which are characteristic of a person, the differences are difficult to notice and, as a rule, they are revealed only through a careful analysis of the two sides of the face. For example, a distinctive feature of the left side is the smoothness of facial features and their vertical elongation. But the right side is distinguished by its breadth and sharpness of facial features. According to experts, the difference in the size of facial features should not exceed 3 mm.

In the photo, there are signs of facial asymmetry in an adult:

Types of facial asymmetry

Facial asymmetry is divided into three main types, and with further treatment it is important to understand which of them you have to deal with:

• congenital;
• acquired;
• combined.

Facial asymmetry at birth is a possible consequence of a malfunction related to genetic predisposition of genetics or resulting from developmental disorders of the child in mother's womb. The congenital type of asymmetry includes:

• failure in the development of the facial bone of the skull;
• lack of development of the lower jaw;
• incorrect development of the temporomandibular joint;
• failures in the development of facial muscles or connective tissue;
• development of torticollis;
• asymmetry of the nasolabial folds;
• strabismus.

There are also cases when asymmetry is acquired during life. The main reasons for the acquired form of curvature of the face are:

• injuries associated with damage to bone tissue and structures;
• inflammatory reactions of the joints of the lower jaw;
• development of the pathological process of mimic functions;
• violation of the chewing structure;
• incorrect formation of dentition, malocclusion, as well as pathology of the development of teeth and jaw;
• neurological diseases.

Causes

Having identified the types of curvature of the face, doctors indicate that it is a consequence of a violation of the working capacity of organs in the human body.

Also common causes of such an ailment are natural age-related changes, stages aging caused by changes or diseases that are inherent in people in a certain age.

The reasons for the acquired form of facial asymmetry include:

• trauma and inflammation of the facial nerve;
• damage to the facial bones;
• destabilization or loss of vision;
• bad habits, such as chewing food on a certain side of the face, sleeping only on the left or right side.

Unfortunately, asymmetry often becomes a consequence of a difficult illness, such as a stroke, as a result of which one of the sides of the face can be completely paralyzed, which is especially noticeable by the asymmetry lips.

The main reasons for the skewed face in babies are:

• abnormal development of the bones of the skull, which is a consequence of trauma in the womb or entwined umbilical cord;
• when the obstetric syringe is compressed, the facial nerve may be damaged;
• injury to the temporal bone during passage through the birth canal;
• epilepsy.

One of the causes of the acquired form of the disease is torticollis. It is possible to identify this ailment on your own, it is enough to pay attention to the fact that the baby constantly tilts the body to one side.

Diagnostics

To establish a diagnosis, a specialist only needs to conduct a visual examination, identify possible injuries and inflammation.

To more accurately identify the degree of asymmetry and determine the area of ​​the lesion, the following additional procedures are carried out:

• examination and consultation with a neurologist;
• complex neurological examination using special equipment;
• X-ray of the skull;
• examination and consultation with specialists such as an ophthalmologist, neurosurgeon and dentist;
• MRI.

How to fix a crooked face

If your face is twisted, your head hurts, numbness of body parts is observed, it is important to immediately call an ambulance, since we are talking about a stroke! Facial shape and other signs will return to normal during treatment and rehabilitation, although depending on the type of stroke, they may remain for life.

After examining and examining the patient, the doctor will tell you how to correct the curvature of the face, what can and cannot be done. Correction of the pathological form is radical and conservative. Gymnastic exercises and massage of the facial muscles with additional stimulation of the affected areas work perfectly. Sometimes a physiotherapy procedure can be the solution to this problem.

It is extremely important to take into account the fact that self-treatment at home by folk means without approval, consultation and constant supervision by a specialist is strictly prohibited.

In the case when the pathology is still there, but it is not significant, cosmetics come to the rescue, for men the way out of this situation can be masking with a beard.

With severe facial asymmetry, corrective services may be another possible treatment option. orthodontist, surgery to correct the jaw apparatus or aesthetic plastic surgery.

Massage

Massage is an effective means of combating asymmetry when using special devices. During this procedure, muscle mass is built up and changed in the damaged area. The device sends an electrical signal that brings all muscles into working condition at the same time, as a result of which visible deviations are smoothed out.

Surgery

Surgical intervention helps to completely get rid of pronounced asymmetry of the face. For example, rhinoplasty will help correct the asymmetry of the nose, lifting can help to cope with tightening the skin, and blepharoplasty helps with removing the skin, changing the shape of the eyes and eyelids. This type of treatment is most effective when there is a significant difference in the sides of the face. Correction of asymmetrical lips is possible with the help of injection cheiloplasty.

For the treatment of jaw deformity, maxillofacial surgery is provided, which allows you to remove part of the bone or build it up. In the process of such operations, part of the molars can be removed, due to which there is more space for the correct growth of the anterior units. This is especially important in childhood.

Cosmetology

Cosmetics and care products also help to cope with facial asymmetry, hiding external imperfections. That being said, using cosmetics helps build confidence.

So, for example, with asymmetry of the eyes, one should not place a pronounced emphasis on them. Avoid bright eye makeup, try not to highlight them with eyeliner, but, on the contrary, use basic, calm tones to make the transition softer and more invisible. Or, you should focus on something else, such as eyebrows or lips. Remember that the right makeup will help hide minor asymmetries and give you confidence.

Complications and prevention

Experts admit the following possible complications of an asymmetric face:

• a sharp deterioration in the general condition of a person;
• impaired hearing function;
• pain in the muscles;
• nervous tic.

Deterioration of psychological health is also allowed: neuroses, depression and aggressiveness are possible.

The main preventive measure to reduce the risk of ailment is the management of a healthy, active lifestyle, getting rid of bad habits and timely referral to specialist doctors. And it is important for the expectant mother during pregnancy to follow the doctor's recommendations, to take care of herself and the baby in the womb and not to miss examinations.