You do have a slightly recessed maxilla, but you don't look weird at all. The first thing I would say, as is so often the case on this forum, is that you need to work on your mental health. You are a very normal, attractive woman. If you want to pursue the correction methods taught on this forum because you want to make improvements to your profile, that's fine. Just be acutely aware that nothing you do externally if going to fix self-hatred.

Mewing will definitely help you improve your profile, as your maxilla is not as forward as it could potentially be. I've seen solid progress over the last 9 months and I started with more recession than you have. It just takes patience and persistence. If you want to know if you are a mouth breather, one simple way is to take your phone and video yourself falling asleep. While you are falling asleep, focus on keeping your mouth closed and breathing through your nose. If your mouth opens as soon as you fall asleep, you're a mouth breather.

Sorry - that was my attempt at humour; I don't like my profile but definitely no self hatred here :). And agree full-heartedly that a lot of this mewing stuff attracts those looking in the wrong place for self esteem and also think that it's pretty dangerous using all these medical-sounding terms for facial features of ordinary - and often attractive - people.  That said, of course I want to look as good as I can and as I'm nearing 40 I've become a lot more interested in health and the massive effects of small quirks of posture really fascinate me.  I'm also permanently tired so the breathing issue is of increasing interest; I don't personally have sleep apnea (I think) but two close members of my family have recently been diagnosed with it.

So is it possible to have very prominent cheekbones (not noticeable in this pic I know, but definitely the case) and a recessed maxilla? That's the bit I don't really understand.  

I know my mouth definitely is open when I sleep (and does fall open even if I try to concentrate on keeping it closed) but I think that's because that's just how it naturally is, at rest, not because it needs to be open in order to breath, if that makes sense. The lip muscles just don't naturally close though I think that is improving.  If a mouth is open does that definitely mean mouth breathing? I guess it would make sense that air would go in through the path of least resistance. 

Thanks for your help. Appreciated.   

An open mouth is almost always an indication of mouth breathing. There is a correlation, of course, between having well developed cheek bones and a forward maxilla, but I don't think that means they can't develop independently as well. I have decent cheek bones as well. My face has always looked great from the front, it's just my profile that's a little off, because my maxilla and chin are recessed. Mewing has improved this tremendously for me and I'm not nearly as diehard as most of the other members here. I just try to remind myself to keep my tongue posture correct throughout the day and when I'm able to focus a little more, I try to push my tongue harder. "Hard mewing" is pretty divisive in this community, because it's not actually recommended by Mike Mew, but a good deal of members have had a lot of luck with it and it feels good to me, so that's the approach I aim for.

Thanks for that - that’s really helpful. Well done on the progress you’ve made! That’s amazing. Do you feel you’ve actually corrected your recession? I’d be happy just to reduce mine. 

It’s such a new area of knowledge that of course we can’t know what’s definitely going to work but going with what feels good seems to be the best option we have.  And just holding my mouth and lips in a different way has been such an improvement in so many ways - from confidence to comfort - that I can’t believe I didn’t do this before.  It's all really exciting, I think,  and I feel very motivated to work hard on this. That said, I don’t think I have the totally hardcore attitude some have (nor the time to give it my full concentration) so it makes sense to me to go at it fairly hard when I do remember. 

Can I ask, did you ‘feel’ anything change as you did this? Any ache or pressure that meant you knew it was having an effect? Although how I hold my face feels different (lips and teeth wise)  I haven’t felt like the pressure on the roof of my mouth moves anything in the slightest or that’s there’s any actual  mechanical change. I know it’s a slow long process, but could you ‘feel’ a change occurring?  

Do you have a routine? I’ve been trying for tongue on roof all day, two one hour ish sessions of chewing a day (not particularly vigorously but a combination of normal back teeth chewing and a bit of tongue pushing), I put a button on a string between lips for a period most days to remember lip seal and I do some ‘alarmed granny’ exercises with chin tucks once or twice a day. I’ve only been doing this a couple of months though.  

Sorry for all the questions! Appreciate the advice you’ve given. 

You might want to try using a short strip of surgical tape to keep your mouth closed while you sleep. Just see if it improves your sleep or not. You can also buy a soft "chin strap" kind of thing on Amazon to accomplish the same goal. Some CPAP users need them.

Thanks - I’ve tried tape, it rarely last the night as I seem to pull it off in my sleep. I might try a strap though - good suggestion! 

I love doing that. Its the only way I wake up still mewing. 

I'm a lifelong mouth-breather (pre-mewing, for 48 years), mouth-open-at-night-person.  Keeping my mouth closed at night has been my biggest challenge, but the past couple of months I've had great success with this.  Dr. Mew has a great YouTube video on keeping the mouth closed at night (his videos in presentation are even greater than before btw). 

As you tongue muscles develop, you'll discover it gets easier and easier to keep the mouth closed at night.  With me, I've developed somewhat of a suction with my tongue to the roof of my mouth and once my facial muscles relax, my mouth tends to stay closed at night.  All of this takes time and a whole lot of effort.  With me I discovered and started Mewing in Aug 2017, and I also had a tongue-tie removed in early 2018 (it took two trips to the surgeon, it was so tight) and once it healed, I started making great gains.   At some point I will post pictures.  I'll be 50 this year, so it's never to late for anyone.  I think younger adults and teens have an advantage though. Best wishes!

>>>>>I know my mouth definitely is open when I sleep (and does fall open even if I try to concentrate on keeping it closed) but I think that's because that's just how it naturally is, at rest, not because it needs to be open in order to breath, if that makes sense. The lip muscles just don't naturally close though I think that is improving. If a mouth is open does that definitely mean mouth breathing? I guess it would make sense that air would go in through the path of least resistance.>>>>>

Just exercise.  There's no getting around it.  I didn't see your first photos... but basically... there is no foul in having your mouth open at night.  Even some mouth breathing at times.  It all depends on your profile and what you want to do and how you want your health.  The best thing to do is get some consistent lower-intensity exercise in.  This is why athlete's don't mouth breathe.

@darkindigo many thanks for the advice. I always look out for your posts, you certainly know your stuff! Do you mean general exercise or specifically mouth exercises? I am doing some physio exercises and yoga but nothing aerobic. But I came across a picture of me running with my mouth wide open that confirmed my mouth breather status :) Just something I never ever thought about before discovering these forums. 

Posted by: Liquidlips1

@darkindigo many thanks for the advice. I always look out for your posts, you certainly know your stuff! Do you mean general exercise or specifically mouth exercises? I am doing some physio exercises and yoga but nothing aerobic. But I came across a picture of me running with my mouth wide open that confirmed my mouth breather status :) Just something I never ever thought about before discovering these forums. 

Thank you!  I appreciate your support.  General physical exercise is known to help with obstructive sleep apnea.  Additionally, vitamin D (ideally from the sun naturally) does as well.  Dr. Stasha Gominak has done quite a bit of research into this area.  Specifically, exercising and breathing through the mouth is no problem.  What happens is the mitochondria need less oxygen as they improve their efficiency.  This allows for a reduction in oxygenation requirements.  Many people live teetering on the edge of insufficient oxygen today.  It is commonly seen in the need for orthodontics, mental health prescriptions, etc.  The facial characteristics, however, do not entirely paint a true picture.  For example, many ways exist to naturally expand/grow help the airway from the inside-out.  Playing most any musical instruments can help to a degree to area of airway behind the mandible.  This is better if done while young.  99.9% of the problems today are from our environment changing.  In certain areas of the world, this is no problem, as they walk a lot and get good sun.  Athletes have no problem usually with mouth breathing.  Even if they do mouth breathe while they exercise, most of the time they won't have to after that.  So, it's basically one more reason to add (good looking face, airway, health) to exercise.  The other component is diet.  High fats and high sugars are making it so we don't work so hard for our food.  What this does is it means that our faces are under-developed.  However, I highly suspect that as we chew bland food (that which takes forever, because it's not that yummy)... then our ancestors who did this and we, too, can increase our smelling factories to compensate.  So... many changes we make are counter-balanced by kicked-off survival mechanisms.  There is more I can say on this through Private Message.  Anyway, 30 minutes of moderate, consistent exercise is what OSA studies show can really help reduce apneic events.  Overexertion can be hurtful to our airways (AKA airway injury)... so it's better to just start out a little slower to begin.  As always, consult with your physician.