The right side of my face is different to the left. Could deviated septum be to blame for difference of appearance?

Question

When I smile (or smirk), left side curves up, no dimple & a significant cheek bone. Left side: smile (or smirk), mouth curves down, laugh line is smaller, a dimple shows, & my cheek bone is practically nonexistent. I've always only taken pictures of & favored left side. I plan to get a rhinoplasty because in addition to a large nose & deviated septum, my nose looks worse from the right side, & the nostril hangs down a bit closer to the skin below it so I often get pimples there. Please help!

Clark Schierle, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Rhinoplasty to address the size and shape of your nose should help you address your concerns. You have to understand that there is no such thing as the “perfect” nose. As rhinoplasty surgeons, we are able to improve the structure and function of the nose to address specific issues you have with how your nose looks and and how well you can breathe. Perfect symmetry does not exist in nature. Attempts to improve the symmetry of your nose should be aimed at achieving an improvement in your asymmetry to the point where it is no longer very noticeable. If you look carefully enough, you will always be able to find imperfections. The goal is a normal looking nose that is in harmony with the rest of your anatomy.

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Missrae24,I love this question because I get it every day in my rhinoplasty practice.Your deviated septum, unless obtained after trauma, is the result of a natural "twist" in your skull.  Every person on the planet has a mild facial asymmetry.  Some are not so mild.Your nose does not sit on a symmetric base so it will never truly be symmetric.  This is important to realize before you undergo surgery.The beauty in our faces comes from this asymmetry.  It is what makes each of us unique."Correction" of your deviated septum might help soften some of the asymmetry, but because the deep bony tissues are not in the same positions right vs. left, all the surface aesthetics that you describe while smiling will remain to an extent.  You certainly can go chasing after them for correction but that gets very expensive very quickly!Good luck with your rhinoplasty, but be happy with who you are.Dr. Shah

Scott R. Brundage, MD · Answer

Everyone's face has some asymmetry to it. If you have a digital photo taken and have it placed on a computer that can take one side of your face and do a mirror image you would be surprised how different you would look. Doing a rhinoplasty will improve the concerns of your nose. You state you have a deviated septum. If this is the case, you may be a candidate for a Rhinopseptoplasty. This would straighten your septum and improve the external appearance of your nose at he same setting. These procedure are all done as an outpatient. Something that you may be interested in is doing imaging. This will allow you to see possible outcomes of what a rhinoplasty can do for you. This can be done here at the Centre for Plastic Surgery along with your complimentary consulation. If this is something you would be interested in, please mention this to the Patient Care Coordinater at the time you call. Hope this helps.

The right side of my face is different to the left. Could deviated septum be to blame for difference of appearance?

Answers (3)

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