Quick Question: vertical jaw lengthening

[LeFort 3000]

Hello knowledgable jsf-community,

just a quick question: is it possible to vertically lengthen the jaw without increasing the philtrum length? if yes, how is the procedure called?

Thank you.

[Post bimax]

I'm not sure maxillary downgraft actually lengthens the philtrum, just as impaction doesn't shorten it.  A downgraft combined with advancement may visually lengthen the philtrum though because it is more in the "foreground" from the observer's perspective.

My answer: Lefort 1 downgraft of the entire maxilla, no advancement.

I'm sure others will have input as well.

[kavan]

I'm assuming you mean the upper jaw to be made longer. The labial ledge (philtrum area) is soft tissue. Technically, it does not get longer with surgery. However, at times, it can  look longer. For example, for SAME technical length, when it's angled out, (usually angled out teeth can angle it out) it can look shorter in frontal view than it would if the teeth were on a VERTICAL plane or retroclined. It can also look longer when the upper jaw is brought forward too much if it stretches out the labial ledge and enough so to make it somewhat conVEX.