facial symmetry

[Hikari]

I am very aware of every little asymmetry in my face, I know that no human has perfect symmetry but still it has always bothered me. Particularly my right eye has always had a epicanthic fold that was rather noticeable, and my left eye didn't have one visible at all.

Now, the epicanthic fold seems to be associated with Asian ancestry, of which I have none, but my Great grandfather on one side and grandmother on the other side were both full blooded native Americans from my understanding of my family tree. Not everyone in my family has Epicanthic folds but, plenty of us do.

Here is a photo for those unaware of what an Epicanthic fold looks like:

The photo on bottom has a structure of skin above the tearduct that the top one doesn't this is an Epicanthic fold (BTW not my image, just shows up on google first).

Long ago a doctor (well a PA) told me, that the asymmetry of it was possibly an indicator of low T. No way was I gonna take T, so I politely declined any testing. One of my persistent worries about HRT is that it would decrease my facial symmetry and make me look worse, but I always rationalized it as I don't notice it on other transwomen so it much not have a negative effect on symmetry.

I looked in the mirror today and amazingly enough, I now have two epicanthic folds, one for each eye! No longer am I going to have to alter the makeup for one eye to make them look the same. Doing a bit of research online, it seems higher levels of Estrogen or Testosterone are connected with facial symmetry. So it looks like, I was worried about nothing. Looking at some older pictures I can confirm a generalized improvement overall in facial symmetry. The Epicanthic fold is by far the most dramatic though, especially seeing as it is almost the same on both eyes too!

Has anyone else noticed changes in facial symmetry?

[peky]

I am very aware of every little asymmetry in my face, I know that no human has perfect symmetry but still it has always bothered me. Particularly my right eye has always had a epicanthic fold that was rather noticeable, and my left eye didn't have one visible at all.

Now, the epicanthic fold seems to be associated with Asian ancestry, of which I have none, but my Great grandfather on one side and grandmother on the other side were both full blooded native Americans from my understanding of my family tree. Not everyone in my family has an Epicanthic fold but, plenty of us do.

Here is a photo for those unaware of what an Epicanthic fold looks like:

The photo on bottom has a structure of skin above the tearduct that the top one doesn't this is an Epicanthic fold (BTW not my image, just shows up on google first).

Long ago a doctor (well a PA) told me, that the asymmetry of it was possibly an indicator of low T. No way was I gonna take T, so I politely declined any testing. One of my persistent worries about HRT is that it would decrease my facial symmetry and make me look worse, but I always rationalized it as I don't notice it on other transwomen so it much not have a negative effect on symmetry.

I looked in the mirror today and amazingly enough, I now have two epicanthic folds, one for each eye! No longer am I going to have to alter the makeup for one eye to make them look the same. Doing a bit of research online, it seems higher levels of Estrogen or Testosterone are connected with facial symmetry. So it looks like, I was worried about nothing. Looking at some older pictures I can confirm a generalized improvement overall in facial symmetry. The Epicanthic fold is by far the most dramatic though, especially seeing as it is almost the same on both eyes too!

Has anyone else noticed changes in facial symmetry?

American Indians are Mongolic, and thus they hence the epicanthic folds... yet that does not preclude them from having symmetric faces, and thus being perceived as beautiful

[Hikari]

American Indians are Mongolic, and thus they hence the epicanthic folds... yet that does not preclude them from having symmetric faces, and thus being perceived as beautiful

Of course, hence why I am so happy I have folds now properly on both eyes, I had to do alot with makeup to make them look even before, with just one eye clearly displaying one and the other not. Symmetry is really important to me, and I don't have much prefereance to having the folds in both or not having them in both, just so long as they are doing the same thing.

Researching more, it turns out some Scandinavians also have epicanthic folds, but, that wouldn't be my source since aside from my native ancestry the past 200 years have been very Irish and English.

[BatLadyMia]

I seem to be lacking in epicanthal folds despite being Chinese, but I did have a eye where the skin fold sat lower than the other. During grumpy or sleepless days it was especially noticeable. Now, it seems to have completely disappeared after my time with HRT.

Also brownie points for taking the time to craft such an educational thread

[kitty]

I haven't noticed a change from hormones,
However I do feel like I have less of an eyelid on one eye as opposed to the other.
I wish I had larger eyelids to do better makeup on. :'c

[Hikari]

I made this to explain what I mean more specifically as well:


On the right is about 3.5 months HRT, thr left is about 5 months HRT. I can also look at pre-hrt photos and notice that there isn't even the start of a fold on the one eye. Kinda amazing, while they still aren't 100% equal I am pretty happy with the change.