When we divide the face into the upper, mid, and lower thirds:

• Upper face: hairline to eyebrows

• Midface: eyebrows to philtrum

• Lower face: philtrum to chin

Many people visit a clinic because
the midface looks long.

While the upper face can be partially hidden by the hairline,
as fat descends with aging,
the area from the under-eye to the cheekbone to the philtrum
begins to look longer,
and the volume around the cheeks and jawline
often appears heavier.

 

Today, let’s organize how we can make the midface appear
shorter and more three-dimensional without surgery,
and what the overall cost considerations look like.

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Why does the midface look long?

 

Your bone structure does not change significantly with age.

What changes is:

• Superficial fat pads descend

• Volume above the cheekbone decreases

• Volume in the lower cheek increases

  

 

This creates a flat, elongated appearance from the under-eye area down to the nasolabial region.

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Can the midface be made to look shorter without surgery?

 

Lifting treatments do not shorten the bone.
Instead, they manipulate light and shadow
to create the appearance of a shorter, more structured midface.

 

The three key axes are:

1. Under-eye curvature + “Aegyo zone”

2. Volume above the cheekbone + midface projection

3. Philtrum and upper lip visual length

Understanding these three anatomically, then combining
HIFU, RF, hyaluronic acid fillers, and thread lifting
as needed is crucial for midface design.

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Under-eye Aegyo zone — who is a good candidate?

 

While the eye shape cannot dramatically change without surgery,
adding curvature beneath the eye with a subtle filler can:

• Make the eyes look slightly larger

• Make the midface appear visually shorter

However, it doesn’t suit everyone.

 

Good candidates:

• Naturally larger eyes

• Flat lower lid line

• Mildly deficient tear-trough–aegyo region when smiling

Not ideal candidates:

• Very small eyes

• Prominent under-eye fat pads

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Cheekbone (malar) volume

Flat cheekbones can lengthen the midface visually.

 

From the front, if the upper cheekbone area is flat:

• The under-eye–cheek–nasolabial area
  looks like a single downward mass

• There is insufficient projection when smiling

 

In this case, rather than bone shaving,
lifting treatments, fillers, or threads that subtly enhance
the upper malar line or anterior cheek
can restore midface height and projection.

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Do the philtrum and lips matter?

 

Although the midface anatomically refers to “eyes to philtrum,”
in reality, the philtrum and upper lip
greatly influence the entire central facial impression.

If the philtrum is long and the upper lip is thin and flat,
a design that slightly everts (rolls up) the upper lip
can visually shorten the philtrum.

 

But if the upper lip is already thick or lacks structural room,
this may create heaviness, so the design must be conservative.

 

In short:

You don’t need to treat the eyes, cheekbones, philtrum, and lips all at once.

You must identify which structure is creating the “long” impression
and correct only 1–2 axes with precision.

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Am I a good candidate for midface lifting?

You may benefit if you match one of the following patterns:

1. The under-eye, cheekbone, and nasolabial area
   all appear to descend as one unit

2. The upper cheekbone is flat while the lower cheek looks full

3. The philtrum is long and the upper lip is short or thin

4. The overall face length is normal, but only the midface looks long

 

In such cases, combining:

• Energy-based lifting (to reposition volume upward)

• Minimal targeted volume addition

• Redesigning where the highlights fall

can effectively adjust the appearance.

 

Ultimately,

A “shorter and more defined” midface
is not about reducing length —
it’s about designing curvature and highlight placement.

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What about the cost?

 

The prices for all HIFU/RF, fillers, thread lifting,
and other procedures are transparently disclosed
on our official website.

Please feel free to check the details.

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Three things to remember before treatment

1) Accurate diagnosis comes first

The reason your midface looks long may be:

• Bone structure

• Fat/skin descent

• Philtrum–lip proportion imbalance

Each requires a completely different treatment approach.

 

2) Avoid overcorrection

Because the midface is the visual center,
even small excessive changes are highly noticeable.

Whether using fillers or energy devices:

“Slightly lighter, always natural”
should be the guiding principle.

 

3) Aesthetic sense matters

This region is not just about smoothing lines —
it is about designing facial proportions.

Beyond anatomy, an artistic eye for
proportion, angles, and curvature
is essential.

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Midface Lifting Cost｜When the Center of the Face Looks Long

 

The best approach is to receive a proper diagnosis first,
then choose the minimum necessary treatment based on the cause.

If you are considering treatment,
we recommend reviewing both photos and your in-person appearance with the physician,
evaluating:

• Upper–mid–lower face proportions

• Bone structure

• Fat distribution

• Skin condition

and selecting the method that genuinely suits you.

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Director: Dr. Won Dae-Han

 

Thank you for reading.

 

📍 Primi Clinic
52 Seongsuil-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 3F (Primi Clinic)

 

📍 Primi Clinic
서울특별시 성동구 성수일로 52 3F（Primiクリニック）

Midface Lifting Treatment Cost｜When the Center of the Face Looks Long