My left jawline seems lower than my right jawline. What can correct this? (Photo)

Question

My left jawline is lower than my right jawline. This makes my face look asymmetrical. My left side of face looks droopier and wider than the right side. Is it because my masseter muscle is more developed on my left side? what can i do to make both left and right jaw more symmetrical.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

Some degree of facial asymmetry is completely normal, but I understand why a difference in the jawline can be noticeable to you. From your description, masseter asymmetry is certainly one possibility, but it isn't the only explanation.

The lower face is influenced by several structures: the masseter muscles, the underlying jawbone, facial fat, skin and soft-tissue support, and the position of the teeth and bite. If the left masseter is more prominent, particularly when you clench your teeth, it can make that side look wider or fuller. Masseter hypertrophy can occur on one side and may be associated with clenching, bruxism, or preferential chewing on one side.

A useful distinction is whether the asymmetry is muscle-related or structural. If the left side becomes noticeably wider when you bite down, that makes masseter enlargement more likely. If the jawline remains different even when the muscles are relaxed, the difference may instead be related to the underlying mandible or the distribution of soft tissue.

If the masseter is genuinely larger on the left, carefully dosed botulinum toxin can reduce masseter volume and improve lower-face symmetry. Studies have demonstrated reductions in masseter thickness and improvement in facial contour following treatment.

However, I would not simply inject the same amount on both sides. When asymmetry is the concern, the treatment should be individualized to the size and activity of each muscle. Over-treating the smaller side could actually make the asymmetry worse.

There are also limitations. Reducing the masseter won't correct asymmetry caused by the jawbone itself, and excessive reduction can sometimes make the cheek look hollow or contribute to soft-tissue laxity. Other potential effects include temporary chewing weakness and, if the toxin affects neighboring muscles, changes in the smile.

If the difference is primarily skeletal, options are quite different and may involve dental/orthodontic assessment or, in more pronounced cases, surgical correction. Likewise, if the apparent droop is coming from soft-tissue descent rather than muscle bulk, masseter treatment would not address the underlying cause.

So, yes, an enlarged left masseter could be contributing to what you're seeing, but I wouldn't assume that's the cause based on a photograph alone. The most useful assessment is to compare both sides at rest and while clenching and determine whether the difference follows the muscle, the jawbone, or the overlying soft tissue. Once the source is identified, the correction can be much more targeted and natural-looking.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Everyone is asymmetrical to some degree and you are within normal limits.  If it is particularly bothersome you can use a combination of fillers and Botox to improve your concerns.  See an experienced injector for an evaluation.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

Facial asymmetry exists in every single individual on this planet. There’s absolutely nothing that you should be doing about that in your face. I hope this helps and good luck from New York City plastic surgery.

My left jawline seems lower than my right jawline. What can correct this? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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