Face Symmetry Test / Asymmetrical face
Asymmetrical face: why one side looks different
An asymmetrical face is one where the left and right halves do not mirror each other. That describes almost every face. Small differences are normal, and you can check your face symmetry with one photo to see where yours sit.
Is it normal to have an asymmetrical face?
Yes. Mild asymmetry is found in nearly everyone. A review of the research in orthodontics describes it as common in people with faces that look perfectly balanced, and only a problem when it is large enough to be obvious or to affect how the jaw works.
The word that matters is degree. A few millimetres between the two eyebrows is ordinary. A jaw that sits clearly to one side, or a side of the face that suddenly stops moving, is something else.
What an asymmetrical face looks like
Most people with a lopsided or uneven face notice one or two of these, rarely all of them:
- One eye higher or smaller than the other, or one eyelid that sits lower.
- Uneven eyebrows, with one arched more or set higher.
- A crooked smile that lifts more on one side.
- A nose that leans slightly off the centre line.
- An uneven jaw or chin that sits a little to one side.
- One cheek fuller or one cheekbone more prominent.
- Ears at different heights, which you often only see with glasses on.
What causes facial asymmetry?
Mostly growth. Your skull, jaw, teeth and soft tissue develop separately on each side, and they never end up identical. Other causes add to that over a lifetime.
| Cause | What you might see | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Genetics and normal growth | Small differences in eyes, brows, cheeks | Present since childhood |
| Bite and jaw position | Chin or jaw shifted to one side, crooked smile | Shows during growth, can change with dental work |
| Missing or extracted teeth | One cheek or lip area sinks a little | Months to years after the tooth is lost |
| Ageing and sun damage | One side more lined or saggier | Slowly, over decades |
| Old injury or surgery | A bump, flat area or shifted nose | After the event |
| Nerve problems such as Bell's palsy or a stroke | One side droops or will not move | Suddenly, over hours or days |
Habits such as chewing on one side or sleeping on one side are often blamed. The evidence that they reshape an adult face is thin. They may add creases on one side over many years, but bones and teeth matter far more.
Does my face look asymmetrical to others?
Less than it does to you. You see yourself mostly in a mirror, which shows your face flipped. A normal photo shows the unflipped face that everyone else sees, so to you it looks slightly wrong. Both images are accurate. Only one is familiar.
Photos also add their own asymmetry. A phone held close to the face makes the nearest features look bigger. Light from one side deepens the shadows on that half. A head turned a few degrees makes one half look narrower. Before you decide your face is lopsided, rule out the picture.
How to check if your face is asymmetrical
- Stand facing a window or a lamp, so both sides get the same light.
- Hold the phone at eye level and an arm's length away. Keep your head level and your face relaxed.
- Push your hair back and take off glasses.
- Upload the photo to the face symmetry test. It places 68 landmarks, draws a midline through the nose and scores seven pairs: eyes, eyebrows, ears, nose, mouth, upper cheeks and lower cheeks.
- Look at the pair scores, not only the total. They tell you which feature differs most.
- Take a second photo and test again. If a pair scores very differently, the photo caused it, not your face.
The photo is measured in memory and never stored. For background on what the score measures, read what facial symmetry is.
Can you fix an asymmetrical face?
Mild asymmetry needs no fixing. When the difference bothers you or comes from the jaw, these are the real options:
- Orthodontics and jaw surgery correct a shifted bite or jaw. This is the main treatment when the bone itself is uneven.
- Replacing missing teeth can restore support to a cheek or lip that has sunk.
- Fillers or muscle-relaxing injections from a qualified doctor can even out soft tissue. They wear off and need repeating.
- Hair, brows and make-up change how balanced a face looks without changing the face. A side parting on the fuller side, or brows shaped to the same height, makes a visible difference.
Face exercises and gadgets are widely sold for this. There is no solid evidence that they reshape a healthy face. Physiotherapy after a nerve problem is a different case and does help.
When an uneven face needs a doctor
A face that has always been a little uneven is normal. A sudden change is not. Call emergency services at once if one side of the face droops, goes numb or will not move, especially with weak arms or slurred speech. These are signs of a stroke, and every minute counts. Bell's palsy can look similar and also needs a doctor quickly.
See a doctor or dentist without urgency if your face changes slowly over months, if one side swells, or if your jaw clicks, hurts or does not open straight. A symmetry test cannot tell any of these apart. It measures a photo, nothing more.
References
- Thiesen G, Gribel BF, Freitas MPM. Facial asymmetry: a current review. Dental Press Journal of Orthodontics, 2015. PMC4686752
- NHS. Stroke symptoms. nhs.uk
- NHS. Bell's palsy. nhs.uk