A seal assembly for sealing between a first machine part and a second machine part. The first machine part has a housing groove with a side wall. The seal assembly includes a compression ring for being placed within the housing groove and a seal element for being placed within the housing groove. The seal element is energized by the compression ring and separates the compression ring from the side wall of the housing groove and the second machine part. The seal element has a seal bottom portion with a seal apex for contacting the second machine part, and a seal back portion for contacting the side wall of the housing groove. In a first position of the seal element the seal back portion extends axially inwardly from the side wall of the housing groove.