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Why Is My Face Asymmetrical?

Quick Answer

Is facial asymmetry normal?

Yes — nearly everyone has some natural facial asymmetry, and small differences between the two sides of your face are normal anatomical variation, not a medical problem. New, sudden, or worsening asymmetry is different and worth a doctor's evaluation.

Source: DEEPPLANE™ ·

Almost no one has a perfectly symmetrical face — and that's normal. But if you've noticed your asymmetry seems more pronounced than it used to be, or you're wondering why one side of your face looks different from the other, it helps to understand the common causes before deciding what, if anything, to do about it.

What are the common causes of facial asymmetry?

Genetics and developmental variation, behavioral habits (chewing or sleeping on one side), dental malocclusion, previous injury, age-related soft-tissue descent, and neuromuscular conditions like Bell's palsy are the most common causes of facial asymmetry.

Watercolor illustration of a small standing mirror with a faint vertical plumb line, beside a brass balance scale with two level pans.
Illustration: balance and symmetry, drawn as objects rather than faces.

The Main Causes

Genetics and development

Many people have some facial asymmetry from a young age — differences in bone growth, eye height, or jaw shape that developed naturally and aren't caused by anything you did.

Repeated habits

Chewing predominantly on one side, or consistently sleeping with one side of your face pressed into a pillow, can subtly reinforce asymmetry over years through repeated, uneven muscle use and tissue compression.

Dental bite (malocclusion)

Misalignment between the upper and lower jaw can pull the lower face out of symmetry over time, especially if it went untreated during childhood or adolescent development.

Previous injury

A fracture or significant soft-tissue injury — even one from years ago — can heal in a way that leaves lasting asymmetry in bone position or skin/muscle alignment.

Age-related soft-tissue changes

This is one of the most common causes in adults: the fat pads that give the midface its youthful fullness, and the skin covering them, don't always descend at the same rate on both sides as we age. One cheek or jowl can end up looking fuller, lower, or more hollow than the other.

Neuromuscular conditions

Bell's palsy and other conditions affecting the facial nerve can cause one side of the face to move less than the other — drooping, an uneven smile, or difficulty closing one eye. This category needs prompt medical evaluation, not a cosmetic consultation.

Jaw joint (TMJ) disorders

Temporomandibular joint disorders are strongly linked to jaw-related facial asymmetry — a 2025 study found TMD present in over three-quarters of patients with mandibulofacial asymmetry. Jaw pain, clicking, or limited opening alongside asymmetry points here first.

When It's Normal vs. When to See a Doctor

Mild, longstanding, stable asymmetry that's been part of your face for years is almost always normal anatomical variation. See a doctor — not a cosmetic surgeon first — if your asymmetry is new, sudden, or rapidly worsening, involves drooping on one side, comes with numbness, weakness, or trouble closing one eye or smiling evenly, or follows a recent injury. These patterns can indicate Bell's palsy, nerve involvement, or — in rare cases — a more serious neurological event, and warrant medical evaluation first.

Can a Deep Plane Facelift Help?

Only for one specific category above: age-related asymmetry caused by uneven soft-tissue descent. A deep plane facelift repositions the deeper facial tissue layer on each side of the face individually — not just the skin — so a surgeon can address genuine differences in how each side has aged. It does not, and cannot, correct asymmetry caused by bone structure, dental bite, or nerve function. No procedure makes a face perfectly symmetrical, and mild asymmetry is normal to expect even afterward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it normal to have an asymmetrical face?
Yes. Nearly everyone has some degree of natural facial asymmetry — no face is perfectly symmetrical, and small differences in eye height, cheek fullness, or jawline shape are normal anatomical variation, not a medical problem. Asymmetry becomes worth evaluating when it's new, sudden, worsening, or accompanied by other symptoms like drooping, numbness, or pain.
What causes facial asymmetry?
Facial asymmetry has several common causes: genetic and developmental variation present from a young age; behavioral habits like chewing predominantly on one side or consistently sleeping on one side of the face; dental malocclusion (bite misalignment); previous facial trauma or injury; age-related changes as fat pads and skin descend unevenly on each side of the face; and neuromuscular conditions such as Bell's palsy or other facial nerve issues that affect muscle movement on one side.
Can jaw problems (TMJ) cause facial asymmetry?
Yes — research has found a statistically significant association between mandibulofacial (jaw-related) asymmetry and temporomandibular disorder (TMD), with one 2025 study finding TMD present in over three-quarters of patients who had jaw asymmetry. If jaw asymmetry is accompanied by jaw pain, clicking, or limited opening, a dentist or TMJ specialist — not a cosmetic surgeon — is the right first step.
Why does one side of my face look older or more sunken than the other?
This is a very common age-related pattern: the fat pads that cushion the midface and the skin overlying them don't always descend at the same rate on both sides, and sleeping consistently on one side can compound the effect over decades. This specific type of asymmetry — soft-tissue volume loss and descent, not a structural or nerve-based cause — is the kind that a deep plane facelift is designed to address, since it repositions the deeper facial tissue layer on each side individually rather than just tightening skin.
When should I see a doctor about facial asymmetry instead of a cosmetic surgeon?
See a doctor promptly (not a cosmetic surgeon first) if facial asymmetry is sudden or rapidly worsening, involves drooping on one side, comes with numbness, weakness, or difficulty closing one eye or smiling evenly, or follows an injury. These patterns can indicate Bell's palsy, nerve involvement, or in rare cases a more serious neurological event, and need medical evaluation before any cosmetic consultation.
Will a deep plane facelift make my face perfectly symmetrical?
No procedure makes a face perfectly symmetrical, and that isn't the goal — some natural asymmetry is normal and expected even after surgery. A deep plane facelift can meaningfully improve age-related asymmetry caused by uneven soft-tissue descent by repositioning each side of the face individually to its own natural support points, but it doesn't correct asymmetry caused by bone structure, dental bite, or nerve function.

Medical References

  1. 01
    Lee C, et al. Non-Surgical Correction of Facial Asymmetry: A Narrative Review of Non-Surgical Modalities and Clinical Case Examples. J Clin Med. 2025;14(24):8828(opens in new tab)(Journal Article)Accessed: 2026-07-23DOI: 10.3390/jcm14248828
  2. 02
    Andriani AT, et al. Association between Mandibulofacial Asymmetry and Temporomandibular Disorder Using Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (DC/TMD). Eur J Dent. 2025(opens in new tab)(Journal Article)Accessed: 2026-07-23DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1809698
  3. 03
    Mayo Clinic - Facelift: Overview, Risks and Results(opens in new tab)(Organization)Accessed: 2026-04-01
Cite this pageCC-BY 4.0
DEEPPLANE™ Editorial Team (2026). Why Is My Face Asymmetrical? Causes & When to See a Doctor. DEEPPLANE™. Retrieved from https://deepplane.com/facial-asymmetry

Content licensed CC-BY 4.0. Free to share with attribution to DEEPPLANE™.

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