Trend Spotlight: Facial balancing

Patients on social media have been showing an interest in facial balancing, so how are practitioners going about achieving these goals?

Patients on social media have been looking at balancing the proportions of the face, particularly focusing on symmetry and the alignment of the nose, mouth, and chin. Aesthetic Medicine reached out to the sector to find out what practitioners do to achieve facial balance on their patients.

“Facial balance is a key concept in aesthetic medicine and focuses on symmetry and harmonious proportions of the facial features in order to achieve the best cosmetic outcomes,” says Miss Jennifer Doyle, oculoplastic surgeon and head of aesthetics at The Clinic Holland Park.

“While perfect symmetry is rare in nature, subtle adjustments through aesthetic procedures can enhance symmetry creating a more balanced and attractive look. It is paramount to treat each patient with an individualised approach, considering their unique facial anatomy and personal preferences.”

Dr Ashwin Soni from the Teoxane Patient Wellness Committee recognises that facial balancing has been picking up a buzz in the media but wants to ensure that patients are getting the best treatment for them, not just what is trending.

“I don’t believe though that getting so focused on exact angles and ratios should cause a provider stress, as a lot of professional judgement should be taken by examining the patient closely and seeing the relevant anatomy that lies in front of you, and then creating a bespoke and suitable plan for that patient.

“Facial balancing treatments are completely personalised to the patient’s face, so it is something that is tailored to the anatomy of an individual. It can provide someone with a much more rejuvenated and refreshed appearance, without changing their features, but just enhancing certain features for them in a lovely and natural way.”

Professor Firas Al-Niaimi, consultant dermatologist from 125 Harley Street, uses a combination of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and filler to balance the face.

“Facial balancing is all about correcting facial asymmetry and differences in volume due to the effects of ageing and gravity. I would use HIFU to firm the skin with perhaps a bit more on one side to balance out the face. If there is uneven laxness in the face, to balance out the volume of the face I would use hyaluronic acid-based temporary fillers to correct this volume loss.”

Narinder Bould, aesthetics nurse practitioner at La Fuente Clinic, aims to provide improvement in the balance of the face, but also refining the skin, while prioritising the individuality of the patient’s features.

“Various techniques come into play depending on the client’s wishes, such as injectables, polynucleotides, and Morpheus8, each addressing specific aspects of skin improvement. Fillers such as temporary hyaluronic acid fillers and calcium hydroxylapatite which provides immediate volume as well as stimulating the body’s own natural collagen, either individually or in combination, are tailored to yield optimal results for the specific needs and age of each patient. Ultimately, I always create a comprehensive strategy in face balancing involving a nuanced selection of techniques that harmonise both aesthetic aspirations and the inherent characteristics of the individual patient.”

Social media has created an opportunity for patients to see themselves from perspectives that they wouldn’t necessarily see in the real world. Filters smooth and straighten the face, with some allowing users to ‘invert’ their face so they can see what they might look like from an outside perspective. We’re more used to seeing our own faces in the mirror or selfie camera, so it has created a sort of dysmorphia.

“The popularity of face balancing is closely tied to the influence of social media, which has put pressure on users to achieve aesthetically pleasing angles and a filtered effect similar to what individuals can achieve on their phones. In the era of digital image enhancement, people desire a consistently refined appearance,” says Bould. “As a practitioner, I advise clients against fixating solely on specific lines and encourage a broader perspective. Face balancing is not just about addressing individual lines; it’s about looking beyond those lines and considering the overall enhancement of facial features.” 

Prof Al-Niaimi has mixed feelings about social media. “Social media can be a great way to educate people and raise awareness for certain procedures that people might not know existed for their aesthetics concerns. However, there are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation that circulate on social media. As a result, patients can become confused with their treatment options and can fall victim to false advertising.”

Overall, facial balancing is a technique that practitioners have used to create natural results for years, and it is understandable that patients are still requesting it.