Shortening the middle third of the face

[disabledmaxilla]

Are there really any effective ways to shorten a long midface? I'm pretty certain it can be done through maxillary impaction but I've read it can only be done in patients with a gummy smile.

Would it be an effective solution for someone with a healthy smile to get maxillary impaction and then get a lip lift for the teeth to show?

[Vic]

Yes, that can be done.

[disabledmaxilla]

Yes, that can be done.

Thanks for the reply.

Do you know anyone here having it done?

[PloskoPlus]

Yes, that can be done.

That would mean shortening the nose. I don't see how.

[disabledmaxilla]

That would mean shortening the nose. I don't see how.

Doesn't that depend on where the cut is done to the maxilla ?

It would be interesting to know how and if the soft tissue is going to shorten as well.

[PloskoPlus]

Doesn't that depend on where the cut is done to the maxilla ?

It would be interesting to know how and if the soft tissue is going to shorten as well.

The only shortening that can be done is impaction with lip lift. The nose does not get shorter

[baldguy83]

Going for a maxillary impaction without a gummy smile sounds like a recipe for disaster. Don't underestimate the scarring that will result from a lip lift, not to mention any other soft tissue issues.

[disabledmaxilla]

The only shortening that can be done is impaction with lip lift. The nose does not get shorter

Sounds like a good solution for a long midface with an average nose in terms of length but as baldguy83 wrote, you can not be sure how the soft tissue is going to match with the shortened skeletal structure.

[disabledmaxilla]

Has anyone actually ever seen before-and-afters from maxillary impaction where there was noticable shortening of the middle third of the patient's face?

[meepmeepmeep]

you can't really shorten the middle third of the face by impaction or lip lift because from the chin point to the sub nasal is the bottom third. i think people are more concerned with shortening the distance between the pupils and the mid lips.

[Lostfaith]

Pls don't do it , I've just had a impaction and have gone from having a lovely smile to seeing hardly any top teeth, when I speak you see more bottom teeth than top, I have less support in mid face. It's been a disaster and I need my jaw bringing back down with a graft. Unless you have a very gummy smile which I didnt  then don't do it

[diculo]

Would maxillary impaction of 3mm make a big difference in shortening the middle third of the face?

[drizzlesome]

Pls don't do it , I've just had a impaction and have gone from having a lovely smile to seeing hardly any top teeth, when I speak you see more bottom teeth than top, I have less support in mid face. It's been a disaster and I need my jaw bringing back down with a graft. Unless you have a very gummy smile which I didnt  then don't do it

Hi, I hope you already found a solution. How many mm did your surgeon impact?

[baldguy83]

impaction without gummy smile is big mistake and I've been warned about this several times. I'd like to know tough, how could this move degrade your midface?

Think on it, where does all the extra soft tissue go? All you address is the bone underneath.

In the case of a very gummy smile, you actually have a 'shortage' of soft tissue (or rather, an excess of bone!). Hence, an impaction could work well in that case.

[Lynnwood]

Drizzlesome,

I sent you a PM, was hoping to a\talk to you... Did you miss it?