What Plastic Surgery Options Are Available For Correction Of Facial Asymmetry?

Q: Hello Dr. Eppley, I have many problems related to my face. Firstly, my jaw is asymmetrical. Right side of my face/jaw is smaller than the left side. Therefore, my jaw is slanted to the left. My nose is deviated. Secondly, I have prominent zygomatic arch but my cheeks are hollow. My eyes are also deep probably due to my prominent brow bone. Beside my jaw, my left and right profiles are different. Back of my head on right side is flatter and hairline in the temporal area is different. How can these problems be solved? I want a more balanced face, in fact a more balanced skull, a flatter forehead, stronger and symmetrical jaw. I also want to have strong cheekbones but maybe a narrower midface. In addition to my photos, I also added photos of the face type that I want to have. Of course it is impossible to have the exact same face but similar facial features and proportions are what I think of. To what extent it is possible?

A: In trying to achieve improved facial balance it is important to focus on those features that can be changed without causing a lot, if any, surgical scars to do. This makes the improvement of jaw and cheek asymmetries capable of being improved with jaw angle and cheek implants that can be placed through the mouth. Similarly, cheekbone reduction can be done through combined incisions inside the mouth and from the temporal hairline. A rhinoplasty, open or closed, can be reliably done for better midline nose alignment and shape changes. Brow bone reduction, while commonly requested by men, is a more difficult choice because there is no ‘scar-free’ way to do it ( a scalp incision is needed) even though the procedure is very reliable at lessening the prominence of the brows. Skull augmentations may be able to be done through an injectable cranioplasty technique depending upon the degree of skull flattening.

When it comes to the potential of face changing surgery, it is best to think of altering and improving the foundation of what you have…not facial transformation.  

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana