If you’ve looked in the mirror one day and you suddenly notice that you have uneven cheeks, it might be a cause for worry. Unless it is a medical condition, uneven cheeks can be common for those who have facial asymmetry. Having an asymmetrical face is actually considered natural.
Having asymmetrical features can be caused by genetics, traumatic-related injuries, or your lifestyle. It can also be caused by medical conditions such as Bell’s Palsy or symptoms of stroke.
If you are bothered by having uneven cheeks, you can have it fixed by getting cheek implants or fillers. You can also do facial yoga exercises to strengthen your facial muscles. Aside from these things, putting on make-up can give your cheeks an even look.
In this article, we will talk about what facial asymmetry is, its causes, and what you can do to fix the unevenness in your cheeks. If you are wondering what the procedures are for correcting facial asymmetry, read on!
What Is An Asymmetrical Face?
Facial asymmetry means that your face does not sit equally on both sides. This could mean that one of your eyes is higher than the other or that your cheeks could be uneven.
Faces are seen as quite symmetrical. When you divide your face vertically in the center with an invisible line, the eyebrows, eyes, nose, cheeks, lips, jaw, and even the ears should all line up equally. Basically, one half of your face should line up well with the other half.
However, having a perfectly symmetrical face is actually rare. Having an asymmetrical face is common and people often have asymmetrical features to a mild degree [1]. It is more common to see asymmetrical facial features in people.
What Are The Reasons Behind Facial Asymmetry?
There are several reasons why people have uneven faces, especially their cheeks. It could be your natural facial structure, or it could be caused by other things. Let us take a look at some of the reasons behind uneven cheeks.
Genetics
According to this study, facial asymmetry can be a result of not only environmental factors but, genetic factors as well [2]. Your uneven cheeks can be a result of genetics, especially if you did not have any experiences that led to a facial injury.
Much like how your eyes could be a mixture of both your parents or passed on to you by one, uneven cheeks (or cheekbones) can also be inherited. Facial asymmetry can present itself as soon as you are born or it can develop as you age.
If your facial features are genetic, like a cleft lip, it is unavoidable. However, there is still a possibility for these features to be fixed.
Injury
One of the factors that can contribute to facial asymmetry is by experiencing severe accidents, especially to the face. Impact on your face can cause your facial features to be damaged, hence the appearance of asymmetrical features.
Bell’s Palsy
Another common reason for a case of sudden facial asymmetry is because of the condition called Bell’s Palsy. This condition temporarily paralyzes one side of the facial nerves because of sudden weakness in the facial muscles.
Bell’s Palsy causes one side of the face to droop resulting in an uneven facial structure. Bell’s Palsy is a temporary condition in most cases. However, weakness in the facial muscle can last longer or even be permanent [3]. If you suspect that you have signs of Bell’s Palsy, make sure to see a doctor immediately so they can give you advice or any possible treatment that you need.
Lifestyle Habits
Sleeping positions, smoking, tooth extractions, and getting dentures can contribute to facial asymmetry [4]. Sleeping on a preferred side or resting your hand only on one side of your cheek can cause the cheeks to become uneven.
Aging
Everyone ages and it is a natural part of life. As we age, our faces do change in shape. The skin gets soggy and becomes less elastic causing the skin to become wrinkly. The cartilage in the body also continues to grow which changes the shape of the face.
Stroke
Aside from Bell’s Palsy, unevenness in the face, especially when you smile, can also be a sign of stroke. If you feel any sudden weakness or numbness in your face, it is best to consult a doctor. If you don’t have it checked immediately, this can cause permanent asymmetrical features.
How To Fix Uneven Cheeks
Having uneven cheeks is a sign of facial asymmetry. Having mild asymmetrical facial features is more common than you think and having perfectly natural symmetrical features are rare. If having uneven cheeks bother you, there are several ways to treat it.
Cheek Fillers
Having facial fillers, especially cheek fillers, can fill in parts of your cheeks that you wanted to improve. Getting cheek fillers can increase your cheek’s volume and make them look more even.
Cheek fillers are non-surgical cosmetic procedures to correct facial asymmetry. Your doctor will inject a filler, typically Hyaluronic Acid, to fill your cheeks. Cheek fillers can be expensive and they typically cost a couple of hundred to a thousand dollars per syringe. You might also want to learn about how long fillers last in cheeks before making this a regular routine.
Cheek Implants
Unlike cheek fillers, cheek implants are a surgical procedure where a surgeon will place silicon implants on your cheekbones. This procedure can also give you fuller and even cheeks. A cheek implant can last for a lifetime and this procedure is more costly than getting a cheek filler.
Facial Yoga Exercises
If the unevenness in your cheeks is not that noticeable at first glance, you can do facial exercises. Doing facial yoga exercises can help strengthen the weakness in the facial muscles.
There is no clinical research that can back this up and you can only find anecdotal evidence online. However, exercising your facial muscles probably won’t hurt to do, and might even help sagging cheeks.
Use Make-up
Putting on make-up is not just about adding blush to your cheeks or putting colors on your eyelids. You can change the way you look by doing a full-face make-up. Adding contour and highlights to your face can give your cheeks a more balanced appearance. If you’re unevenness is due to discoloration and not shape, try these foundations for melasma.
There are a lot of video tutorials on how to put on make-up. There are several steps you have to follow and it can be confusing if you are not used to wearing make-up. However, with enough practice, you can definitely achieve even cheeks.
Check Your Eyebrows
Most of us have asymmetrical eyebrows, meaning one side if fuller or shaped differently than the other. This asymmetry can affect your whole face. If it seems like your cheeks are uneven, trimming your eyebrows (or one) might be the answer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Are My Cheeks Uneven?
Having an asymmetrical face is more common than having facial symmetry. Uneven cheeks can be caused by several factors such as lifestyle habits, genetics, aging, or because of an injury to the face. If you have a mild case of facial asymmetry, you might not even notice your uneven cheeks most of the time.
How Do You Deal With Uneven Cheeks?
Getting facial implants or fillers are some of the things you can do to deal with uneven cheeks. These procedures can give your cheeks a fuller volume and can help even them out. Another thing you can do is to put a full-face makeup, contour, and all. Contouring can help hide the unevenness of your cheeks.
Conclusion
Having asymmetrical features is natural and very common. In fact, having symmetrical facial features is considered rare. However, if you are bothered by the unevenness of your cheeks, there are several things you can do to fix them. Getting a cheek filler or implant can help even out your cheeks as these procedures will give your cheeks more volume.
In this article, we also talked about the other things you can do to fix an asymmetrical face. We also talked about other information that you might need regarding facial asymmetry. If you have any other questions, let us know!
