Symmetry is an important part of beauty. Faces should generally have two sides that match. It shouldn’t be a perfect match, because that looks unnatural. But studies show that a greater degree of natural symmetry tends to make a face look more beautiful.
Unfortunately, a new study shows that facial asymmetry tends to increase as we get older. This can make it hard to maintain an attractive appearance with age. However, the good news is that a nonsurgical facelift can address some of the causes of asymmetry to restore your youthful beauty.
Measuring Increasing Symmetry
Researchers from Mount Auburn Hospital published their findings in the Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in early November. They measured the faces of 191 volunteers, from age four months to 88 years. The overall average age of the volunteers was about 27 years.
They analyzed the faces using root-square-mean-deviation (RMSD). This mathematical technique is proven for analyzing differences in position among an array of elements. The RMSD for most patients fell between 0.4 and 1.3 mm, which they considered to be the range of normal deviation.
However, they found that the deviation did increase over time. It wasn’t a fast change, just 0.06 mm per decade, but it was significant. They also identified that the greatest initial asymmetry and most of the increasing asymmetry were in the lower two-thirds of the face, from the eyebrows to the chin.
Why Does Asymmetry Increase?
The study wasn’t set up to identify causes of increased asymmetry. There are some easy links we can make between age and asymmetry, however.
Of course, with life we are just more likely to experience events that leave their mark on our face. Cuts, scars, and other marks can increase asymmetry. Other types of asymmetrical exposure can also contribute to facial aging, such as exposure to sun related to driving (a trucker’s tan). This can accelerate the skin changes that lead to an aged appearance on one side of the face.
However, we can’t neglect the impact of teeth and jaws on increasing facial asymmetry. Most people chew more on one side of their face. This can lead to uneven wear on teeth, as well as uneven muscle development. Clenching and grinding exacerbates this asymmetry. Facial asymmetry is a common complaint among people with TMJ, which can lead to a highly visible imbalance between the sides of the face. .
Restore Balance with a Nonsurgical Facelift
Plastic surgery can’t address many of the potential causes of facial asymmetry. It can’t change the skin qualities impacted by uneven sun exposure. Nor can it address the changes in underlying support, such as the jaw, teeth, or muscles.
Fortunately, a nonsurgical facelift can. By building up worn teeth, we can restore your youthful facial symmetry. This will help you look both younger and more attractive. And by working to resolve your TMJ, we can help balance your biting and chewing, allowing the muscles to develop more evenly and eliminating another source of asymmetry.
And we can also address some of the other potential impacts that led to asymmetry in your smile: chipped teeth, crooked teeth, poorly fitting restorations, and more.
To learn how a nonsurgical facelift can improve the symmetry and youthfulness of your appearance, please call (248) 656-2020 today for an appointment with a cosmetic dentist at Doolin Haddad Advanced Dentistry in Rochester, MI.
