Face shape assessment guide

Step 1: Take honest photos

The single most useful tool for self-assessment is a set of well-taken photos. Take them in:

• Soft, even lighting. Window light around 10am or 3pm is ideal. Avoid overhead lighting (creates artificial shadows) and direct sunlight (creates harsh contrast).
• Hair pulled back fully. So the face outline is visible from temple to jaw.
• Neutral expression. No smile, no sucking-in. Relaxed face.
• From the same height as the camera lens. Phone held at chin height, not above.
• Three views: straight-on, exact profile (90°), and three-quarter (about 45°).

Take 3–4 photos in each view and pick the most relaxed.

Step 3: Identify where your face is widest

On the straight-on photo, draw an imaginary horizontal line at:

• The temple
• The cheekbone
• The mid-cheek (where you smile dimples appear if you have them)
• The jaw angle
• The chin

Where is your face widest?

• Widest at mid-cheek (over the buccal fat): Buccal fat is likely contributing to your face shape. Candidate.
• Widest at the cheekbones: Your bone structure is the dominant feature. Buccal fat removal will not change your bone-width.
• Widest at the jaw angle: Masseter muscle width may be the issue. Buccal fat removal may help but masseter Botox is likely the better first procedure.
• Widest at the temples: Unusual; unlikely to benefit from buccal fat removal.

Step 5: Look at your family aging pattern

This is the single most predictive factor for your long-term outcome — and the one most patients overlook.

Find photos of your parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents at ages 50–70. Ask yourself:

• Do they look gaunt or hollowed in the mid-face? Or do they retain cheek volume?
• Did their face shape narrow significantly with age, or stay relatively full?
• Are there obvious "thin-face aging" examples in your family?

If your family aging pattern shows significant volume loss, this is a strong reason for conservative technique — or for considering a non-permanent alternative like masseter Botox.

Red flags from self-assessment

If your self-assessment shows any of the following, please send photos for a professional opinion before committing to surgery:

• Length-to-width ratio > 1.20 with no clear mid-cheek fullness
• Already visible hollowing under cheekbones
• Temple hollowing
• Strong family pattern of thin-faced aging
• Age 35+ with non-round face
• Recent significant weight loss (within 2 years)

These don't mean automatic disqualification — but they do mean the decision deserves more careful evaluation than a one-line web form.

Frequently asked questions

What if my face shape is between categories?

Borderline cases (e.g., oval-round, length-to-width 1.15–1.25) are common. These are exactly the cases where individual factors — age, family aging, skin quality, expectations — determine candidacy. A professional assessment is more valuable than a self-assessment in borderline cases.

Can my face shape change with age, affecting the result?

Yes. Faces typically narrow with age as fat compartments shrink. A round face at 25 may become oval at 50 even without surgery. This is why patients with naturally-thin aging family patterns should be especially cautious with surgical fat removal.