I have crooked eyes, and would like to know what it is. Can I get plastic surgery to fix it?

Question

I am a 22 year old male, and for most of my life I have been told that my face was not symmetrical. I apparently have one eyes a lot lower than the other, and i have googled and googled but cannot find anything. I know it is not ptosis, because it is my actual eye socket, not the eye lid. Has anyone seen this before, or know if I can fix it with surgery?

John J. Martin, Jr., MD · Answer

You have the left orbit in a lower position than the right.  This is something you were born with.  To fix this involves some major surgery and risks to the eye and vision.  I would not recommend this for purely cosmetic reasons.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Your left orbit sits lower in the face than the right orbit.  Craniofacial surgeons do have surgeries that can move the orbit.  Unfortunately the technique is not cosmetic surgery and there are many potential risks and foreseeable complications associated with these procedures.  The roof of the orbit is the skull base of the brain.  Craniofacial surgery is generally reserved for individuals whose appearance do not look like humans because the face is so malformed.  That is not your situation.  I suspect that craniofacial surgeons would be reluctant to operate on you.  If you did find someone to operate on you, I personally do not think it would be a good choice due to the morbidity and risks associated with surgery.

R. Stephen Mulholland, MD (retired) · Answer

Dear Daltonroars,

Thank you for your clinical posts and photographs.  It does appear from the photograph you do
have a modest degree of hemifacial microsomia and asymmetry.  The right orbit, cheekbone and mandibular
border is fuller and higher than on the left side.  This type of subtle to moderate asymmetry is
quite common.  To reconstruct these,
generally the illusion of soft tissue fillers is one of the simplest options to
improve some vertical height asymmetry. 
However, this is temporary and will require repeat injections on a
yearly basis.  Other injectable options
other than off-the-shelf hyaluronic acid gels would include fat grafting to
some of these areas – the jawline, zygomatic, malar, cheekbone, undereye – will
provide some improvement with a longer-term result.

Ultimately, craniofacial surgery with osteotomies and orbital
repositioning, with or without  bone
grafts or non-bony grafting, may also provide significant aesthetic
enhancement.  Of course, the surgery is
much more involved and riskier, with a longer recovery period.  In general, in Toronto, adult craniofacial
surgeries, especially involving the orbit, would involve seeking the
consultation of Dr. Oley Antonyshyn.  Dr.
Oley Antonyshyn is an excellent adult craniofacial surgeon with orbital
zygomatic expertise, and he would be in the best position to advise you as to
the more complex craniofacial reconstructive aesthetic options.

For more information, please review the link below.

I hope this information has been of some assistance and best
of luck.

Sincerely,

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto

I have crooked eyes, and would like to know what it is. Can I get plastic surgery to fix it?

Answers (3)

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