Gummy smile and a recessed chin - what can be done to fix my facial asymmetry?

Question

i have noticed that my face is very asymmetrical from my eyebrows to my cheeks and jaw however i can’t figure out what the problem is !! i have a gummy smile and a rather recessed chin which might just be my jaw. i also struggle to keep my lips closed and was told that my lips are protruded. could someone please tell me what the problem is and what can be done to fix it !!

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

First of all, you are obviously an attractive girl. The easiest (always start lighter to see if you like it) would be Botox under the nose but it is not permanent. A Frenulectomy (or frenectomy) can be performed with or without weakening of the muscle.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

I don’t blame you for being confused when it comes to understanding facial aesthetics.
 Even providers with a decade of medical training sometimes don’t get facial aesthetics correct either.
Plastic surgeons tend to be soft tissue oriented while oral surgeons tend to see things more from my facial skeletal perspective.
My background is in plastic surgery.
As I mature into the later part of my career I am of the belief that the oral surgeons have the upper hand when it comes to truly understanding facial aesthetics.
Almost everything that has to do with our facial appearance is based on bone structure.
Soft tissue covering is generally consistent from person to person while facial skeletal structure is fundamentally what determines how we look. whether attractive or unattractive, masculine or feminine these generally all are based on bone structure.
The under developed mandible and elongation of your maxilla are the fundamental issues related to your facial appearance.
Sometimes we choose procedures that are a little simpler but don’t address the primary problem.
When we do so we should recognize that a partial improvement is the best we can hope for.
Sometimes treating the primary underlying cause is simply too involved and too invasive for patients to get on board.
In the end the decision often comes down to what do you want to achieve and what are you willing to go through.
Regardless, the process should always begin with a accurate and comprehensive assessment.
Having a clear understanding of facial aesthetics will help guide to decision making process whether you choose to treat the primary problem or apply secondary treatment options.
Shortening your maxilla is a pretty involved procedure while lip lengthening is a little more palatable for most.
Consider consulting with doctors from both oral surgery and plastic surgery backgrounds.
Alternatively you could find plastic surgeons with craniofacial fellowship training.
Facial asymmetry is present on everyone.
The human face and body are inherently asymmetrical.
During embryological development the two sides of the face develop independently from each other. they eventually fused in the midline.
Nobody has a symmetrical face
The human brain is a custom to seeing faces that are asymmetrical as being normal.
Truly symmetrical faces are only seen from created images.
There are lots of great articles on facial symmetry pointing out that symmetrical faces having an odd and unattractive appearance because they are never seen in real life.
Most people do not recognize other people as having a symmetrical faces. If you look close enough you’ll recognize that it is universal.
Facial asymmetry should not be treated unless it is severe enough to be obviously noted by others.Facial asymmetry is inherently almost always based on facial skeletal structure. Most treatments based on soft tissue manipulation will simply create two asymmetries which typically do not improve the appearance.
I typically encourage people to have multiple consultations before committing to any permanent surgical procedure.
It’s important to find the right provider and this generally requires consulting with more than one provider. there are inherent differences among different providers and the importance of choosing right provider cannot be overstated.
Good luck,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Gummy smile and a recessed chin - what can be done to fix my facial asymmetry?

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Gummy smile and a recessed chin - what can be done to fix my facial asymmetry?

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