Cosmetic Medicine Approaches to Shortening the Mid-Face | Tips on How to Cover It Yourself

In the world of aesthetic medicine, a shorter mid-face (the distance from under the eyes to the lips) is considered a "well-balanced face," and in recent years, makeup techniques to shorten the mid-face have become widespread.

However, there is a limit to how much makeup techniques alone can make the mid-face appear shorter, and a cosmetic medical approach is necessary for fundamental improvement.

This article explains why the mid-face can appear long in the first place, along with the reasons why makeup alone cannot fully cover it.

We will also introduce the "cosmetic medical approaches to shorten the mid-face" proposed by KAI CLINIC TOKYO, so if you are concerned about the length of your mid-face, please use this as a reference.

Main characteristics of people whose mid-face appears long

First, let us explain the main characteristics of people whose mid-face appears long.

If you are concerned about the length of your mid-face, please compare the following with your own face.

Overall facial balance and the shape/position of features

As described below, the overall facial balance, the shape and position of features may be causing the mid-face to appear long.

• Central features are long:
  When the face is divided into three equal parts — "hairline to brow," "brow to nose tip," and "nose tip to chin" — the middle section has the largest proportion
• Eyes appear positioned high:
  There is a large gap below the lower eyelid, making the eyes feel placed toward the upper part of the face overall
• Vertical length is more prominent than horizontal width:
  There is less volume on the sides of the cheeks, emphasizing the vertical length
• Little to no under-eye bags:
  The area under the eyes is flat with no defined border, making the cheek area look wide and flat
• Long philtrum (area between nose and upper lip):
  There is a long distance from the base of the nose to the upper lip, giving a stretched impression
• Nose tip pointing downward:
  The nose tip points downward (drooping nose tip), naturally drawing the gaze downward on the face
• Low cheek peak (highest point):
  When smiling or viewed from the side, the fullness of the cheeks is located below the level of the nostrils

Characteristics of people whose mid-face appears long due to aging and muscle decline

Aging and muscle decline can cause the cheeks to sag, making the mid-face appear longer than before.

In addition, the upper lip becoming thinner and rolling inward, or weakened muscles that lift the corners of the mouth resulting in the cheeks not rising when smiling, can also be causes of the mid-face feeling longer.

【Cover on your own】Makeup techniques to visually shorten the mid-face

The length of the mid-face can be covered to some extent with makeup techniques, but there are limits to what you can achieve on your own.

We will explain makeup techniques to visually shorten the mid-face, as well as why those techniques have their limits.

Basics of mid-face shortening makeup

The key rule for making the mid-face appear shorter is to place the center of gravity of the upper facial features "lower" than their natural position.

To make the mid-face appear shorter with makeup, keep the following points in mind.

• Enhancing under-eye bags:
  Draw a shadow slightly below the actual under-eye bag and emphasize the three-dimensional effect with glitter or highlighter to bring the "eye position" lower
• Emphasizing lower lashes:
  Apply mascara carefully and add color along the lower eyelid's waterline to extend the eye's boundary downward
• Blush placement:
  Apply blush softly in a "horizontal" direction from above the nostril line toward the temples to break up the open space of the mid-face

How to Make the Mid-Face Look Shorter with Lip Makeup

When applying lip makeup, it is important to keep the following points in mind.

【Tips for Lip Makeup to Shorten the Philtrum】

• Overlip:
  Draw the cupid's bow 1–2 mm beyond the natural lip line to expand the lip area upward
• Use shading:
  Apply a subtle shadow just below the nose to make the tip of the nose appear lower
• Apply highlight as a dot:
  Place highlight on the cupid's bow (M-shaped area) of the upper lip to create dimension and make the distance to the philtrum appear shorter

Self-Care Has Its Limits

Methods of making the mid-face look shorter through makeup are purely visual and do not provide a fundamental solution.

Therefore, for those who want to fundamentally shorten the mid-face, we recommend considering an aesthetic medicine approach.

【Non-Surgical Treatments】Aesthetic Medicine at KAI CLINIC TOKYO to Shorten the Mid-Face

At KAI CLINIC TOKYO, we offer two types of aesthetic medicine for mid-face shortening: "non-surgical treatments" and "surgical treatments."

First, we introduce non-surgical approaches to shorten the mid-face.

Hyaluronic Acid Injection

Hyaluronic acid is a substance naturally found in the human body that retains moisture and helps maintain skin firmness and elasticity.

By injecting hyaluronic acid, rather than simply filling wrinkles, volume is added to the upper cheeks to lift the overall center of gravity of the face, and a visual effect of reducing the appearance of an elongated face can be expected.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of hyaluronic acid injection are as follows.

• Downtime: Swelling and redness may occur but typically subside within 2–3 days
• Risks/Side effects: Swelling, bruising, and rarely vascular occlusion (intravascular injection), infection, or allergic reaction

View details on hyaluronic acid injection

Thread Lift

Thread lift is a treatment that physically lifts sagging tissue by inserting medical-grade threads with special barbs under the skin, tightening and reshaping the mid-face.

In addition to supporting the skin from within, the stimulation from the barbs promotes collagen production, and medium- to long-term skin quality improvement can also be expected.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of thread lift are as follows.

• Downtime: Mild swelling and tightness may last for several days to about one week
• Risks/Side effects: Swelling, redness, bruising, pain, pulling sensation, unevenness (improves over time)

View details on thread lift

Botox Injection

Botox injection is a treatment that temporarily blocks nerve-to-muscle signal transmission by injecting botulinum toxin type A into specific muscles, suppressing muscle movement.

By administering Botox injections, the muscles of the upper lip are relaxed and the lip is slightly flipped upward (lip flip), making the area below the nose appear shorter.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of Botox injection are as follows.

• Downtime: Swelling and redness may occur but typically subside within 2–3 days
• Risks/Side effects: Bruising, mild swelling and tenderness, antibody formation with prolonged continuous use, asymmetry or stiffness in facial expression (can be adjusted)

View details on Botox injection

【Surgical Treatments】Surgical Approaches at KAI CLINIC TOKYO to Shorten the Mid-Face

Next, we introduce the "surgical treatments" offered at KAI CLINIC TOKYO to shorten the mid-face.

Lip Lift (Philtrum Shortening)

Lip lift is a surgery that shortens the distance between the nose and lips by excising a few millimeters of skin beneath the nose, balancing the overall facial proportions.

It creates dimension in the upper lip and can also be expected to give a tightened, youthful impression.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of lip lift (philtrum shortening) are as follows.

• Downtime: Swelling and bruising are most noticeable 2–3 days after surgery. They gradually subside over 1–2 weeks and fully settle in about 3 months
• Risks/Side effects: Swelling, scarring, redness, pain, bruising, edema, numbness, deformity, allergic reaction, etc.

View details on lip lift (philtrum shortening)

Mid-Face Lift

Mid-face lift is a surgery that incises the skin below the eyes and repositions the orbital fat to an appropriate location.

By repositioning the orbital fat, improvement of dark circles caused by under-eye sagging and overall facial rejuvenation can be expected simultaneously.

It also adds natural volume and roundness to the cheeks, and the corners of the mouth appear lifted, giving the face a three-dimensional look.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of mid-face lift are as follows.

• Downtime: Swelling and bruising are most noticeable 2–3 days after surgery. They gradually subside over 1–2 weeks and fully settle in about 3 months
• Risks/Side effects: Swelling, redness, pain, bruising, edema, numbness, ectropion, infection, allergic reaction, etc.

View details on mid-face lift

Bone Surgery (Mouth / Facial Contour)

By combining the "Le Fort I osteotomy," which addresses the maxilla, with the "sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO)," which addresses the mandible, it is possible to physically reduce the length of the mid-face by several millimeters and alter the proportions of the face.

Bone surgery is a procedure that can fundamentally address mid-face shortening.

The downtime, risks, and side effects of bone surgery (mouth/facial contour) are as follows.

• Downtime: Swelling and bruising are noticeable 2–3 days after surgery. They subside in about 1 month, with full recovery taking approximately 6 months
• Risks/Side effects: Possible complications include swelling, asymmetry, bruising, infection, scarring, pigmentation, foreign body reaction, pain, numbness, sensory abnormalities, hair loss, tissue necrosis, vision impairment, facial nerve damage, allergic reaction, and shock reaction

View details on bone surgery (mouth/facial contour)

How to Choose a Clinic and Key Points to Avoid Failure

Choosing the right clinic is important for shortening the mid-face. Here are the key points to consider when selecting a clinic for mid-face reduction.

• Whether they offer proposals tailored to your specific cause:
  Choose a doctor who can explain convincingly why "this method is best for you" based on your face type.
• Whether the before-and-after photos look natural:
  Clinics that show "cases from various angles" and "natural appearance in motion" tend to have higher credibility.
• Whether they openly disclose disadvantages:
  You can feel at ease with a doctor who thoroughly explains risks and negative aspects, and works with you to consider countermeasures.

For mid-face reduction, please consult KAI CLINIC TOKYO

At KAI CLINIC TOKYO, we provide aesthetic medical care that supports each patient concerned about the length of their mid-face, attending closely to their feelings and pursuing true beauty.

We will carefully counsel you about your mid-face concerns and dedicate ourselves fully to helping you achieve your ideal face, drawing on our continuously refined cutting-edge techniques and extensive knowledge.

We will provide attentive support not only for consultations and treatments, but also for post-operative aftercare, so please feel free to come in for a consultation.

Summary

Many people develop a complex about having a long mid-face, as it can create an elongated, aged impression.

While there are makeup techniques to make the mid-face appear shorter, they have their limits, and an aesthetic medical approach is necessary for fundamental improvement.

At KAI CLINIC TOKYO, all of our doctors are certified specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

For all facial concerns including mid-face length, we pour our reliable anatomy-based techniques and extensive knowledge into every procedure to deliver high-quality aesthetic medical care.

If you are considering shortening your mid-face to achieve a youthful impression, please feel free to contact our clinic for a consultation.

To help you achieve the beauty you desire, we will support you responsibly from counseling through post-operative follow-up care.