Everyone has small differences between the two sides of the face, and they are part of what makes a face your own. When those differences become more noticeable, because of genetics, an injury or simply getting older, they can bother you every time you look in the mirror. At The Naderi Center, the goal is to restore balance in a way that looks natural and still looks like you.
How to Address Facial Asymmetry
- Everyone has small differences between the two sides of their face; it’s completely normal.
- When those differences bother you, Botox, fillers or PRF can make a noticeable change with little to no recovery, and fat grafting can restore volume that lasts longer.
- Larger imbalances caused by bone or structure usually need surgery, such as rhinoplasty or chin augmentation, for a lasting correction.
- Each plan at The Naderi Center is built around your own features, with a natural, balanced result as the goal.
- Most non-surgical results need some maintenance to last.
Why Facial Asymmetry Happens
Facial asymmetry can be present from birth or develop over time. Causes include genetics, always sleeping on the same side, jaw displacement, an old injury and overactive facial muscles. Aging tends to make it worse, because volume is lost, fat pads shift and the bones change. Dr. Shervin Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and specialist in facial balancing, notes, “Even patients with near-perfect symmetry in their youth may notice differences emerge as they age, due to changes beneath the skin.”
Understanding Facial Anatomy: A Critical First Step
The face is built in layers: bone, deep fat, superficial fat, muscle and skin. Correcting unevenness starts with knowing how each layer contributes to the way the face looks, and both of the practice’s injecting physicians, Dr. Shervin Naderi and Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass, work from that detailed knowledge. Dr. Naderi performs his own advanced injections and works only on the face, nose and neck.
Non-Surgical Options for Facial Balancing
Many patients start with non-surgical facial balancing because it improves symmetry with little recovery time. Options include Botox and injectable fillers such as Juvéderm Vollure and Volbella, as well as Sculptra and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF). Fat grafting, a surgical procedure, is another way to restore volume.
- Botox relaxes muscles that cause uneven smiles or brow positions.
- Fillers return lost volume and shape areas that need improvement. As an example, RHA 4 with Voluma works well for returning cheek volume and contour.
- For dynamic facial expressions, Restylane Kysse and RHA 2 are ideal because they move naturally with the skin.
The Importance of Expert Assessment
Correcting asymmetry isn’t a matter of putting filler wherever a patient points. It takes an experienced eye to look at the whole face and decide where a little added volume, or a relaxed muscle, will restore balance. Dr. Naderi explains, “Using fillers is as much an art as a science. Each filler has its own physical properties, such as viscosity, elasticity and longevity, and they must be matched carefully to the treatment area to serve the patient best.” A subtle approach provides a natural look, not an overfilled or unnatural appearance.
How Different Fillers Work
Understanding the physics of facial fillers helps match each product to the right area:
- Juvéderm Vollure and Volbella are softer and flexible, ideal for delicate areas like the lips and fine lines.
- RHA 4 is firmer and more elastic, which suits structural areas such as the cheeks and jawline.
- The choice depends on the patient’s facial anatomy, skin quality, and goals.
Fat Grafting: A Natural Option
For patients who seek lasting volume restoration, fat grafting is a good choice. Fat is taken from another part of your body and injected into areas that lack volume or look uneven. It is done under general anesthesia, and the results look natural and last a long time.
PRF: Enhancing Healing and Skin Quality
Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) uses components of your own blood to stimulate collagen. It improves skin quality, can help recovery after volume treatments or surgery, and is often combined with other treatments.
Book a Consultation
Have a question about your own face or skin? Our physicians see patients at our offices in Reston, VA and Chevy Chase, MD.
Book a ConsultationStart with a virtual consultation
Call Reston (703) 481-0002 or Chevy Chase (301) 222-2020.
Surgical Options When Needed
When asymmetry comes from bone or muscle imbalance, surgery is usually needed to correct it, and it can be combined with non-surgical treatments to balance the whole face.
Common Surgeries for Symmetry
- Rhinoplasty: Reshapes an uneven or crooked nose for better balance and harmony.
- Chin Augmentation: Uses a small chin implant to bring the chin into proportion and strengthen the profile.
- Facelift: Lifts sagging tissues, refines the jawline, and corrects uneven aging with long-lasting results.
- Blepharoplasty and Brow Surgery: Balances uneven eyelids or brow positions for harmony in the upper face.
No two faces are the same, so no two plans are either. Dr. Naderi takes time to assess your features and understand your goals, plans the surgery around them, and often adds small non-surgical refinements for a natural, balanced result.
Experience care from true facial specialists
Schedule a visit at our Chevy Chase or Reston offices.
How Long Results Last
Patients often ask whether the changes will be temporary or permanent. It depends on the treatment:
| Treatment | Typical Duration | Maintenance Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Botox / Dysport | 3–4 months | Yes, repeat treatments every few months |
| Dermal Fillers | 6 months – 2 years | Yes, depending on filler type and area treated |
| Fat Grafting | Many years (permanent fat that survives) | Occasional touch-ups if some fat is reabsorbed |
| PRF (Platelet-Rich Fibrin) | Gradual results, maintained with sessions | Yes, usually a second session 6 to 8 weeks after the first, then yearly |
| Surgery (Rhinoplasty, Facelift, etc.) | Permanent structural changes | No routine maintenance, though aging continues |
Aging and Facial Symmetry
With age, bone resorbs, fat pads shift and muscles lose tone. Volume loss is sometimes greater on one side, which makes an existing asymmetry more obvious. Regular check-ins and maintenance treatments help keep the face balanced.
Differences in Men and Women
Men and women have differing facial structures and beauty goals. Men generally have stronger jawlines and more angular features, while women often prefer softer curves. Treatment at The Naderi Center is adjusted for these differences so the proportions suit each patient’s face.
Ethnic-Sensitive Facial Balancing
Ideals of facial balance differ across ethnic backgrounds. Dr. Naderi performs a high volume of ethnic rhinoplasty, and both surgical and non-surgical treatments at The Naderi Center are planned to respect each patient’s heritage.
Why Choose The Naderi Center?
All injections at The Naderi Center are performed by physicians: Dr. Naderi, a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, and Dr. Snodgrass, a board-certified dermatologist. Because Dr. Naderi does his own injections as well as surgery, he can tell you honestly when an injectable will work and when only surgery will give the result you want.
The Naderi Center Team
The team includes Dr. Shervin Naderi and Dr. Alexandra Snodgrass. Both are trained in facial anatomy and injection technique.
Comprehensive Approach to Facial Balancing
We look at the whole face rather than one feature at a time, and we often combine treatments so the result looks balanced and natural.
Patient Experience and Safety
All treatments take place in an accredited medical setting, are performed by experienced physicians and use FDA-approved products. Surgery is done in the operating room under general anesthesia.
Consult with Experts to Address an Asymmetrical Face
Facial balance is a large part of what we do. At our offices in Chevy Chase and Reston, our double board-certified facial plastic surgeon and board-certified dermatologist will examine your face and recommend what will actually help, from a subtle non-surgical change to facial plastic surgery. Schedule a consultation to talk through your options.
See the Doctor
Questions about what you just read? Ask our doctors in person. Book a consultation in Reston or Chevy Chase, or start with a virtual consultation from home.
Book a ConsultationVirtual consultation
Call Reston (703) 481-0002 or Chevy Chase (301) 222-2020.
Frequently Asked Questions About Facial Asymmetry Correction
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