The other day we were chit-chatting in the office about facial asymmetry, and if sleeping on your side can increase the risk. One of my lovely colleagues, let’s call her Nasa, insisted that her face was not symmetrical, and to prove her point she stepped in front of the studio lights. And true to her sentiments, there was a wee bit of facial asymmetry there, but only visible if you squinted hard enough.

I, on the other hand, didn’t notice any facial asymmetry on my face, and the room wanted to know how I sleep. Well, I do sleep on my side, but I alternate both sides, which makes me think that balances things out.

TikTok, Facial Asymmetry, and Sleeping

Why am I bringing this subject up? Because TikTok content creators are warning individuals not to sleep on their side, claiming that this causes facial asymmetry and skin drooping. Really?

To get to the bottom of this facial asymmetry and skin drooping business, skin specialist, Tallulah Billington, who specializes in medical-grade skin care and lasers, weighs in on this subject and gives some tips and tricks on how to avoid this.

Sleeping on your side actually causes facial asymmetry

According to Tallulah, this is not a myth. “When I see clients in my clinic, and there is an obvious, or even subtle facial asymmetry – for example, in their lips, the volume in their cheeks, or with the nasal-labial nose to mouth folds, one can be deeper than the other. When I ask them if they tend to sleep permanently on one side – the answer is always yes!”

So, she continues, I have definitely seen proof that you will slightly start to wear down the tissue in the face. If you have dermal fillers, these will break down quicker too if you sleep permanently on the same side.

“This will not be the case for everyone of course, but I definitely see proof amongst my patients,” says Tallulah.

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Tallulah’s top tips to avoid this ‘phenomenon’

Actively alternate the side you sleep on
Sleep on your back with your head and neck elevated, to avoid puffiness (not particularly comfortable)
Silk Pillowcases! – These allow your skin to settle and breathe without the tugging or harsh experience from cotton – and provide zero no friction between the skin and the case with the silky versions versus other fabrics

That said, which side do you sleep on, and have you noticed any facial asymmetry or skin drooping? Share your thoughts in the comments.