What is facial shape deformation?
Facial shape deformation is an unusual or distinctive formation of the face or one of its components. Facial shape deformation can be an important indicator of underlying genetic diseases or syndromes. However, this diagnosis also depends on other accompanying features.
It may also refer to an altered morphology of size and/or shape of the face due to mechanical forces.
Understanding face-related symptoms and features
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects, can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The face contains the nose, eyes, and mouth, all of which are sensory organs. The face also displays emotions and feelings and plays a crucial role in communication. The face runs from the forehead at the top, to the chin at the bottom and encompasses everything in between.
Symptoms affecting the face can for the most part be seen with the naked eye. Although diagnosing a face related symptom may involve different tests and assessments, both subjective and objective.
Symptoms relating to the face may affect its structure, shape and/ or function. Some features will affect just the appearance of the face while others may affect its ability to express emotions and to communicate non-verbally.
Facial shape deformation may be caused by congenital conditions (e.g., craniofacial syndromes), trauma, or certain genetic disorders like Crouzon syndrome or Apert syndrome. It may also result from muscle weakness, nerve damage, or other developmental abnormalities affecting bone growth and soft tissues.
What should I do next?
In some instances, facial shape deformation may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Facial Shape Deformation, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.