Many people talk about symmetrical faces and bodies, and our view of symmetry as being a defining characteristic of beauty. Many plastic surgeons talk about creating symmetry. In some procedures, improved symmetry is one of the outcomes. A breast lift or breast augmentation, for example, can reduce asymmetry between your breasts.

But are symmetrical features really the most beautiful? Julian Wolkenstein is an artist who set out to examine the role symmetry plays in our perception of beauty, according to Huffington Post. Wolkenstein took photos of 10 different models. Ultimately there were three different photos of each model: the original photo, a photo in which the left side of the face is mirrored, and a third photo in which the right side of the face is mirrored. The person in the portrait looks drastically different from photo to photo.

Wolkenstein also created the website and iPhone app Echoism. You can upload photos of yourself and Echoism will mirror each side of your face, letting you see how you would look if your face was symmetrical.

It is important to remember what plastic surgery can realistically achieve. It cannot change the fundamental way you look or the structure of your bones, but it can improve the balance between your features. You should never expect plastic surgery to make you perfect. Instead, experienced plastic surgeons can offer cosmetic improvements with proportion, symmetry and balance in mind as guiding principles, but not absolute definitions of beauty.

To learn more about plastic surgery for women and men living in Dallas, Fort Worth and the surrounding areas in Texas, please contact the Cosmetic Surgical Center to schedule a consultation with plastic surgeon Dr. Vasdev Rai.