Can Midface Shortening Be Done?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have been researching a whole lot online and I can not find anything on “midface shortening” procedures. I have a very long midface (pupils to beginning of vermilion border) that is really bothering me. Is there anything that can be done to significantly shorten it or am I just forced to have to live with it? My nose is long and my philtrum area is around 15mm long. Can rhino/lip lift decrease the length of my midface by at least 10mm or is that just impossible and if so than why? 

Thank you in advance😊

A:Unlike the upper and lower facial thirds, the middle of the face can not undergo any substantial length shortening. It does not matter what you do to the bone the overlying soft tissues are not going to shorten. You have mentioned the only two procedures that can be helpful to create some appearance of midface shortening. (subnasal lip lift and tip rotational rhinoplasty) Whether that wouold be effective in your case would require computer imaging to determine.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana