Can My Asymmetric Brow Bone Be Reshaped?

Q: Hi Dr. Eppley, I was wondering whether trauma to the brow bone early in life could have caused it to grow differently than it should have. I was on a trampoline as a child  and fell onto the left side of my face and had large swelling there for about a week before it went away.  Now that I am older I have noticed that the side of my brow seems to be lower, giving my left eye a perpetual sad look that I do not like. While I could be mistaken, and it could be scar tissue causing this asymmetry, I am wondering if this is due more to bone. If so, is there a cosmetic procedure to fix this and if the childhood trauma could have been the cause. Thank you.

A: Most certainly trauma to the brow bones can be a source of brow asymmetry. The trauma could have caused an actual deformation of the bone by infracturing the thin bone over the frontal sinus in an adult or causing a compression fracture in children that changes how the shape of the bone grows and expands. Such asymmetry is the result of the edge of the brow bone being lower than the unaffected side. This can usually be corrected by a brow bone reshaping procedure by shaving ‘up’ the lowered edge of the brow bone. This can be done through an upper eyelid incision. It usually takes about two to three weeks until all the swelling and bruising is gone.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana