"Known as the 'Frog Prince'... 40-something Man with Swollen Cheeks 24/7—What Happened? [Health Talk]"

[The Financial News] The story of a Chinese glass craftsman whose face has been dramatically altered after more than 30 years of repetitive work has come to light.
According to a report on the 4th by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Zhang, a 48-year-old working at a glass manufacturing company in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, has developed a distinctive facial shape with both cheeks protruding significantly due to years of glassblowing.
His facial muscles have become excessively developed from the repetitive motion, causing his cheeks to puff up like balloons every time he blows glass.
Originally from a rural village in central Hunan Province, Zhang has spent three decades in the glass industry. A viral video online shows him lifting molten glass heated to over 1,000°C with a 1.5-meter-long metal pipe, then blowing air through the pipe to shape the glass.
He skillfully rotates the pipe while continuously blowing air to control the thickness and shape of the glass. Due to the high temperatures inside the workshop, he is often seen working shirtless.
Zhang explained, "When I first started this job, there was nothing unusual about my face. Over the years, the repetitive act of blowing air has damaged and gradually stretched my facial muscles."
Currently, his cheeks are so swollen that his face resembles that of a frog.
Colleagues affectionately call him 'Chatterbox,' and Zhang himself refers to himself as the 'Frog Prince,' embracing the changes with humor.
Glass art is a traditional industry in China with a history spanning over a thousand years. Qixian County in Shaanxi Province is known as the 'capital of glass products,' home to about 35,000 glass artisans.
When glass is blown by hand, a person can produce about six glasses per minute, whereas a machine can make 45 in the same time. However, handmade glass is lighter and thinner, and is considered superior in quality.
After Zhang's story became known, Chinese netizens responded with comments such as, "His appearance is not ridiculous, but admirable," "It is the mark of a lifetime dedicated to his family," and "He is a true craftsman preserving traditional skills."

While Zhang's facial changes resulted from years of using specific facial muscles, habits such as chewing food on one side, resting your chin on your hand, or sleeping face down can also alter facial structure.
Chewing only on one side causes the jaw muscles (the masseter muscles) to develop unevenly, which can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders. Even if one side feels more comfortable, it is important to use both sides of the jaw evenly.
Additionally, maintaining a prone position for extended periods can deform the spine, and as spinal curvature collapses, facial asymmetry may worsen.
Leaning on one leg while standing, rather than distributing your weight evenly on both feet when sitting or at the table, can also cause facial asymmetry. Favoring one leg can tilt or shift the pelvis to one side, which in turn leads to imbalance in the shoulders and jaw, ultimately resulting in facial asymmetry.
However, areas with developed muscles can become softer again with warm compresses and gentle massage to relax the tension.
The real issue arises when the facial bones themselves become deformed. In such cases, medical interventions such as contouring surgery may be considered.
For facial asymmetry, excessively developed areas such as the jawline, chin, or cheekbones are trimmed and repositioned. In cases of a square jaw, the angle of the jaw or the tip of the chin is refined to create a softer appearance. Additionally, thread lifting procedures can help further define the facial line.
moon@fnnews.com Moon Young-jin Reporter