Facial Asymmetry

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in facial asymmetry correction. My son was born with torticollis. He had physical therapy for a few years but he still is self conscious about his eyes and the fact that his nose and chin don’t align. Is this something that you could improve?

A: It can be seen that he has right sided facial shortening type facial asymmetry. The vertical length of his right face from eyebrow to chin is shorter than the left side. As a result there is a deviation of twisting of the face to his right. Because of his congenital torticollis he may or may not have a chronic head tilt to the left side. My comments will be based on that he does not.

The top and bottom of the vertical facial axis is the key. A right endoscopic browlift with upper blepharoplasty (to create a visible supratarsal fold like the left side) is what is needed superiorly. Inferiorly the chin need to be rotated over to the left with a vertical opening wedge on the right to straighten and lengthen it. I think these would be the two key areas to improve for his facial asymmetry surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana