Will A LeFort Osteotomy Make My Midface Shorter?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I need a LeFort osteotomy to shorten my midface. It is too long from my eyes down to my upper lip.

A: No form of a LeFort osteotomy can shorten the external midface unless one has vertical maxillary excess…and this is only effective because it lessens the amount of tooth exposure. Shortening the length of the bony midface will not shorten the overlying soft tissue and will only result in loss of upper tooth show under the upper lip. The only known external midface shortening procedure is a subnasal lip lift which shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana