Symptoms of Hemifacial Microsomia | Neurological Surgery

Symptoms of hemifacial microsomia vary widely in severity. In mild cases the symptoms may include:

Skin tags in front of the ears
A smile that seems “crooked”

In more severe cases, several facial structures are underdeveloped:

outer and middle ear (in some cases the external ear is deformed or even missing)
side of the skull (one eye socket may be smaller than the other)
cheeks (underdeveloped fat and muscle on one side may make the face look asymmetrical)
teeth, jaws, and mouth (they may slant up toward the affected side of the face)
facial nerves (they affect the movement of one side of the face)

Hemifacial microsomia is a complex disorder that requires several different specialists to treat, so children suspected of having it should be evaluated by an experienced and multidisciplinary craniofacial team at a major medical center (see Diagnosing and Treating Hemifacial Microsomia).

For more information about the Weill Cornell Craniofacial Program, contact Charlotte B. Palmero, M.S., Craniofacial Program Coordinator and Genetic Counselor, at 212-746-1274, or use our online form to request an appointment.

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Reviewed by: Mark M. Souweidane, M.D.
Last reviewed/last updated: January 2019