How to Shorten a Long Midface: Treatments vs. Non-Surgical Fixes

If you've ever been told you have a "horse face," it usually means the midface, the area from under the eyes to the tip of the nose, looks long. The short answer: there isn't just one way to shorten the midface. Options fall into non-procedural approaches, minimally invasive treatments, and surgery, depending on what makes it look long. We put this guide together so you can weigh your options before a midface consultation at a plastic surgery clinic near Sinsa Station in Gangnam.

What Changes When the Midface Looks Long

When the midface, the central zone of the face, looks long, overall facial proportions fall out of balance and you can easily look older than you are. As the preference for a youthful, "baby face" look has grown, so has concern about midface length.

That's why more people are seeking midface consultations at plastic surgery clinics in Gangnam and around Sinsa Station. Still, rather than picking a procedure first, it's important to start by assessing your own facial structure and the result you want, then decide whether non-procedural methods or a professional treatment is the better fit.

Makeup and Hair: What Non-Procedural Options Can Do

Even without surgery or injections, there are ways to make the midface look shorter. Makeup and hair styling can make a difference right away, and the key is drawing the eye upward toward the center of the face, around the eyes.

Blush placement is a classic example. Instead of applying it below the cheekbones, sweep it horizontally across the front of the cheeks just under the eyes to create the illusion of a shorter midface.

Massage that relaxes the muscles around the philtrum and gently stretches the nasal bridge may help a little, but it can't change the underlying bone structure. So think of non-procedural methods as a temporary way to camouflage the issue. If you want a longer-lasting improvement, it makes sense to look at the treatments and surgical options below as well.

Filler vs. Thread Lifting: It Depends on the Cause

If you're considering a treatment, first identify the root cause of the long-looking midface. There are two main causes: a lack of volume that makes the face look flat, or loss of skin elasticity that leads to sagging.

• If hollowing under the eyes or in the front of the cheeks makes the midface look long, filler is the right choice. Restoring volume to hollow areas with hyaluronic acid filler adds dimension and can make the midface appear shorter.
• If aging or rapid weight change has caused the cheeks to sag and the nasolabial folds to deepen, lengthening the midface, a thread lifting is effective. Because it physically lifts sagging tissue, the lifting effect is visible right away.

When Bone Structure or the Philtrum Calls for Surgery

Midface length is largely determined by the position and size of the maxilla (upper jaw). That's why the fundamental, permanent way to reduce the length itself is surgical correction. Typical approaches include maxillary osteotomy (Le Fort I osteotomy) in the dental field, and reducing midface length as part of double jaw surgery in plastic surgery.

If the cause isn't bone but a long philtrum, the area between the nose and the upper lip, a lip lift (philtrum reduction) plays the biggest role in visually shortening the midface.

Surgery involves a longer recovery and a higher cost than nonsurgical treatments. It should be considered a last-step option, decided only after a thorough consultation with a board-certified specialist and X-ray analysis of your bone structure.

Key Takeaways

• Non-procedural methods (makeup, hair, massage) shift the eye and temporarily camouflage the midface.
• Filler is the right option for lost volume, and a thread lifting is the right option for sagging.
• If the maxilla or philtrum is the cause, consider surgery, but start with X-ray analysis and a specialist consultation.

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Last reviewed: 2026-10-07 This article provides general medical information. Individual diagnosis and treatment plans are determined through an in-person consultation.