Facial asymmetry correction begins not with the bone you were born with, but with the difference between the muscles on each side — reducing where a muscle is overdeveloped and building where it is weak.
Those who would like the underlying cause addressed
Those with sensitive skin, for whom massage and other external pressure feels like too much
Those who would prefer no recovery period
Those whose eyes look uneven because each one opens with a different strength
Those who feel one side of the face has dropped
Those who feel one side of the face sits higher
Individual responses vary. Treatment outcomes may differ depending on individual condition, and the information on this page is general in nature.
A face that looks tilted is often put down to the bone you were born with. In practice, however, muscular imbalance is a major contributing factor.
When the strength and the size of the muscles differ from one side to the other, the stronger side stands out and asymmetry appears — the muscles are what hold the bones in position. In most cases this develops slowly, over a long period of repeatedly using the muscles on one side.
If the cause lies in the muscle, that is where we begin. Where asymmetry originates in the underlying bone structure, however, muscular work cannot alter it fundamentally, and what can be achieved differs from person to person.
Rather than reducing one side alone, we work on the stronger side and the weaker side at the same time.
Asymmetry rarely settles by reducing one side alone. On the overdeveloped side, needling is directed at acupuncture points associated with reducing the muscle; on the weaker side, at acupoints associated with building it. Korean Medicine describes this as supplementation and draining — restoring what is depleted and draining what is in excess, in both directions at once.
Where one eye sits higher than the other, where one eye looks smaller, or where the outer corners of the eyes sit at different angles. The cause is usually a difference in how strongly each eye opens. We work to strengthen the muscles around the weaker eye, aiming to bring the two closer together.
Asymmetric eyelid drooping can occasionally signal an underlying condition. If you notice a sudden change, please consult an ophthalmologist.
Differences in the height and width of the jawline from side to side, a zygomatic prominence that stands out on one side only, cheeks that differ left to right. Working from the midline, we identify which muscles have become overdeveloped and adjust accordingly.
Where only one corner of the mouth lifts when you smile, or where one whole side of the face feels as though it has dropped. We work with the difference in activity between the left and right muscles of facial expression, aiming to restore the balance.
At consultation we read the left–right balance of three areas — the contour, the eyes and the lips — against guidelines, so that the assessment is precise.
Differences in the height and width of the jawline are checked against the midline.
Differences in eye level, and in how strongly each eye opens, are checked against a reference line.
The difference in the height of the corners of the mouth when smiling is checked against a reference line.
※ The images above are illustrative graphics showing how the assessment is carried out. They are not treatment results, nor images of particular patients.
Mild asymmetry is often managed for aesthetic reasons, but as it becomes more pronounced it can begin to cause discomfort in daily life. An accurate assessment, and a plan suited to you, matter most.
| Option | Approach | Recovery | How it works | Duration of results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jayeonsan facial asymmetry correction | Works on the muscles themselves | None | Acupuncture at points associated with reducing an overdeveloped muscle and building a weaker one, working with the muscles that hold the bones in position | Long-lasting |
| Orthognathic or facial bone surgery | Works on the bone | Considerable | The bone is surgically reshaped. | Long-lasting |
| Botulinum toxin | Works on muscle movement | Minimal | Botulinum toxin works by temporarily limiting muscle movement. | 3–6 months |
| Dermal filler and thread lifting | Works by adding volume or lifting | Moderate | Threads or dermal filler are introduced to fill or lift a hollow area. | 6–18 months |
※ The option that suits you, and the result, may differ depending on the condition of your own face and the degree of asymmetry. This table is intended as general information, not as a ranking of one treatment against another.
Reference lines are drawn on a front-facing photograph to measure differences in the contour, the eyes and the lips.
Needles are placed at acupoints associated with reducing the muscle on the stronger side, and with building it on the weaker side.
Photographs from each session are compared under the same conditions, and the plan adjusted.
Even with the same concern, the position of the muscle and how far it has developed differ from person to person. The Director checks the change at every session in person and adjusts the acupuncture points accordingly.
※ Closed Wednesday, Sunday and public holidays.