What causes a long face?
A long face, also known as a long facial profile, can be caused by a variety of factors:
- Genetics – Some people are simply born with longer or shorter facial structures. Having parents or other family members with longer faces increases your chances of having a longer face as well.
- Jaw growth – Overgrowth of the lower jaw (mandible) during development can lengthen the lower part of the face.
- Teeth positioning – Having a severe overbite or underbite can make the face appear longer.
- Aging – As we age, we lose bone mass in the jaws, which can lead to a longer looking facial profile.
- Weight loss – Losing a significant amount of weight, especially in the cheeks and chin area, can make the face look longer.
Genetics
Your basic facial structure is largely determined by your genetics. Things like the size of your jaw, the positioning of your cheekbones, and the length of your facial profile are inherited traits passed down from your parents.
If one or both of your parents have longer face shapes, then you are more likely to have a longer facial profile as well. This does not mean that your face length cannot be modified, but it does mean that genetics set the basic blueprint for the size and shape of your facial structures.
Jaw Growth
One of the most common causes of a longer facial appearance is overgrowth of the lower jaw, also known as mandibular prognathism. This occurs when the lower jaw grows excessively forward or downward during childhood or adolescence.
| Age | Cause |
|---|---|
| Childhood | Genetic conditions like Marfan syndrome |
| Teen years | Hormonal influences of puberty |
As shown in the table, the most rapid and significant jaw growth happens in the childhood to teenage years. Growth hormones and genetics influence the size and direction of jaw growth during this time.
An overly prominent chin and lower jaw adds length to the bottom portion of the face, increasing the overall facial profile.
Teeth Positioning
The way your teeth fit together can also influence facial length. An severe overbite (upper teeth far in front of lower teeth) or underbite (lower teeth far in front of upper teeth) pushes the jaw outward or inward, which can make the face appear longer.
Getting orthodontic treatment like braces to correct bite issues can help shorten face length by properly aligning the jaw and teeth.
How can I shorten my facial profile?
There are both temporary and permanent options for shortening face length or reducing the appearance of a long face.
Temporary Solutions
Here are some temporary, non-surgical ways to minimize the look of a longer face:
- Wear your hair down – Long, full hairstyles that frame the face help minimize the vertical length of the face.
- Style your hair with volume at the sides – Fullness at the temples helps make the midface look wider.
- Wear oval or cat-eye shaped glasses – Angled eyewear helps draw attention outward and minimizes facial height.
- Apply makeup to the horizontal areas of the face – Highlight cheekbones, temples, and jawline to add width to the center of the face.
- Grow a beard (for men) – A full beard adds volume around the chin area to help lessen the look of facial length.
Trying different hairstyles, glasses, facial hair, and makeup techniques can help reduce the appearance of face length. However, these solutions are temporary and need to be maintained daily.
Permanent Options
For permanent facial shortening, there are a few surgical and non-surgical options:
Jaw Surgery
Oral maxillofacial surgeons can shorten the lower jaw through procedures like:
- Jaw shaving – Shaving down the bone along the lower border of the jaw to reduce length.
- Jaw reduction – Removing a small section of bone from the back of the jaw to set it back.
- Jaw repositioning – Repositioning the lower jaw bone to improve alignment and proportion with the upper jaw and skull.
These types of jaw modification surgeries shorten face length from the lower portion. They are invasive procedures but can permanently change the facial profile.
Chin Augmentation
Adding volume to the chin area with an implant can help shorten overall facial height. Chin augmentation surgery places an implant in front of the lower jawbone to build out the chin.
A stronger, more projected chin helps balance out facial proportions and minimizes the vertical length of the facial profile.
Botox®
Getting Botox® injections along the lower facial muscles can subtly shorten face length. When injected into the masseter muscles along the jaw, Botox® can slim and shrink the appearance of the lower face.
Botox® may need to be repeated every 3-4 months to maintain the effect.
| Treatment | Permanency | Recovery |
|---|---|---|
| Jaw surgery | Permanent | 1-2 weeks downtime |
| Chin augmentation | Permanent (with implant) | 1 week downtime |
| Botox® injections | Temporary (3-4 months) | Minimal – no downtime |
As shown in the table, only jaw and chin surgery provide permanent solutions for shortening face length. But they require recovery time. Botox can provide subtle temporary reduction with no downtime in between treatments.
What results can I expect with treatments to shorten face length?
The amount of facial shortening or change you can expect depends on the treatment:
- Jaw surgery – Can shorten face length from 5mm to over 1cm, depending on the procedure.
- Chin augmentation – Typically shortens facial height by around 5-10mm on average.
- Botox® – Results are more modest at 1-3mm of reduction in face length with jaw slimming injections.
More significant jaw surgeries like reductions offer the most dramatic changes in face length. But the other options provide subtler improvements.
The best approach is to consult an oral surgeon and cosmetic doctor about what results are realistic for your facial structure and desired changes. 3D imaging can help you “preview” possible results before undergoing any face shortening procedures as well.
Conclusion
Having a longer facial profile is very common and can be caused by a variety of genetic and developmental factors. Both temporary cosmetic solutions and permanent surgical jaw treatments exist to help shorten face length.
The optimal approach depends on your comfort level with surgery, budget, downtime, and the amount of facial shortening you hope to achieve. An experienced provider can evaluate your specific facial dimensions and recommend a customized treatment plan.
With the right approach, it is possible to balance out facial proportions and effectively shorten your face shape.