Facial asymmetry – what are its causes and what can be done about it
You often ask me what exercises you should do to reduce facial asymmetries. I will therefore dedicate today's post to this very subject. The causes of asymmetries and how to deal with them.
Facial asymmetry? It's natural!
To begin with, it is worth emphasising that neither our bodies nor our faces are fully symmetrical. There will always be a slight difference between the right side and the left.
Surely you have seen more than once photos of famous people altered so that the left or right side of the face has been „duplicated” and reflected as if in a mirror. The result is a new face. Perfectly symmetrical and... Well. Disturbing. Strange. Unsympathetic.
Small natural facial asymmetries are even desirable and to be expected if only because each half represents a slightly different area of our lives:
• left side of the face, „controlled” by the right, „emotional” hemisphere of the brain, reflects our emotional life, our personal life;
• right side of the face, which works with the left, „rational” hemisphere of the brain, reflects our logical side, i.e. our working life.
Hence, parts of the face will naturally differ slightly, but just - slightly. Stronger, clearly visible asymmetries are no longer considered a physiological condition. They can have adverse aesthetic, but also health effects.
In addition, facial asymmetries will worsen with age.
Causes of facial asymmetry
The reasons why asymmetry appears on our faces are varied and numerous. Among the most important of these are:
• genetic causes - The uneven growth and muscle work of the right and left sides of the face may be written in our DNA;
• non-facial reasons - for this is related to body asymmetry. With the help of fascia and fascial bands, our face remains connected to the rest of the body.
Therefore, its symmetry and asymmetry can be affected by, for example, a curvature of the spine or even incorrect posture caused by unevenly arched feet.
Read more about the impact of posture on facial appearance in the blog post -. Poor posture and facial appearance.
• pelvic torsion - In order to compensate for them in posture, the spine and further individual body parts must curve. There will also be misalignments in the temporomandibular joints. One of the visible effects will be uneven muscle tone in the cheeks, neck and head muscles and... Asymmetry, primarily in the central part of the face;
• operations and the resulting scars - and again, surgical procedures that result in facial asymmetries do not necessarily involve the face alone, or even the head. Lesions involving the abdomen, back or legs, via the musculo-fascial system, will transmit tension to the face and produce asymmetries;
• strokes and micro-strokes - A history of stroke often leaves a trace in the body in the form of muscle weakness on one side of the body, including - the facial muscles.
Of course, the reasons for the face becoming asymmetrical can also relate to the face and head itself:
• It is worth making sure that you do not suffer from bruxism (excessive jaw clenching, teeth grinding), whether our bite is correct, whether we use the right and left jaws evenly when eating;
• you also need to look at yourself during a night's rest. After all, one of the common causes of facial irregularities is always sleeping on the same side. Which side do you prefer when you fall asleep? 😉
• Facial nerve palsy can also be a cause of asymmetry. As with the effects of stroke, the asymmetry associated with nerve palsy will require medical intervention, including physiotherapy.
Facial asymmetry - how do you diagnose it in yourself?
Some asymmetries will be more conspicuous, others less so. Also, their cause may not be clear at first. In order to diagnose one's own asymmetry, it is of course necessary to look at one's own face - whether the eyebrows are at the same height and have a similar curve, whether the nose has a twisted tip, the shape of the jaw (which side is more developed), the symmetry of the mouth and chin, the intensity of wrinkles on the right and left, etc.
However, it is also worth taking a slightly wider view of yourself. Strip down to your underwear and stand casually in front of a large mirror. Look at the position of your legs and arms. The curve of your spine. On the position of the arms (are they at the same height?). Look at the position of your head (am I keeping it straight, or am I twisting it, tilting it to either side?).
If you're having trouble figuring out your own asymmetries yourself, ask someone close to you - a mum, a sister, a friend - for help. Someone kind enough to point out the „inequalities” of your face without undue malice.
Exercises for facial asymmetry
When it comes to dealing with the asymmetries that appear on our faces, universal advice that is good for everyone does not exist.
Depending on the cause of the asymmetry, we may need the help of an orthopaedist (spine, pelvis), a physiotherapist (postural defects, skeletal muscle tension), a massage therapist or even a surgeon (removal of surgical scars) or an orthodontist (problems in the jaw). There are situations for which a visit to a plastic surgeon is best (large deformities, often with genetic causes, people after accidents, etc.).
However, we can of course also help ourselves with exercises and self-massage. This is especially true if the asymmetry is slight, due to the muscles on the right and left sides of the face working unevenly. By exercising and massaging, we will aim to relax the contracted muscles of the harder working side and activate the muscles of the more „lazy” side.
I have prepared some examples of very effective and simple to perform exercises and massages for you in video form.
Massage for facial asymmetry - video instructions
One final comment:
Hands-free kit, the best friend of your facial symmetry
The mobile phone has become our closest companion, which is with us for better or worse. We spend a lot of time not only browsing on it, but also talking on our „mobiles”.
When talking while walking, shopping and other situations where we are on the move, we want to have both hands free. I often see women holding shopping bags in both hands, holding a child by the hand, leading a dog on a leash and holding the phone to their ear... with their arm.
For the symmetry of our faces, this is a disastrous posture - it causes contractures and muscle imbalances. That's why (for other health reasons too!) it's worth getting headphones as part of a hands-free set. This will benefit our health and beauty.
Author of the entry
Marfa Kusinska-Bielecka - certified teacher of facial yoga by the method of Face Yoga, author of the book "beauty yoga", yogi, Ayurvedic consultant III degree, biologist, fashion designer. It teaches women to maintain youth and good health for a long time.