I have an elongated face - Which surgery can help to achieve a feminine and harmonious face shape? (Photos)

Question

For a very long time I have been unhappy because of my extremely elongated head, my face is flat and shapeless, what surgery would change this. Would jaw surgery have the most impact, implants in the cheeks or shortening of the forehead maybe. Or something else. Which procedure is mandatory if I really want a feminine and soft but above all harmonious and symmetrical facial appearance

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

I hear how much this has been affecting you, and the good news is there are options, but the right choice depends on what’s creating the “elongated” look: bone structure, soft-tissue volume, or both.
From your photos, you appear to have a longer midface/lower-face impression with low facial volume, especially through the cheeks. In many patients, the face looks “long” not because the bones are abnormal, but because there isn’t enough midface projection and soft fullness to balance the vertical length.

Most Common “High Impact” Options (and what they do)
Midface/cheek augmentation (fat grafting or implants): often the best first step to add feminine softness and restore shape. This can make the face look shorter and more proportional by creating width and projection where it’s missing.
Chin shaping (reduction or augmentation): if the chin is contributing to length or imbalance, adjusting it can improve harmony significantly.
Jaw surgery (orthognathic surgery): this is only “mandatory” if you have a true bite/jaw alignment problem (overbite/underbite/open bite) or significant skeletal imbalance. It’s a big step and not the first-line choice if your bite is normal.
Forehead/hairline lowering: can help some patients, but it only addresses the upper third. It won’t fix a long midface/lower face if that’s where the issue is.
What I Would Do First
If your bite is normal, a typical first approach would be:
Build midface/cheek structure (fat grafting vs implant discussion)
Consider chin/jawline refinement only if needed for balance
Reserve jaw surgery for cases where function and skeletal alignment truly require it
Next Step
The most important thing is a consultation with a qualified, board-certified facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who can evaluate:
your bite and jaw relationship (photos alone can’t confirm this)
facial proportions (upper/mid/lower thirds)
whether volume restoration vs skeletal change will give you the result you want
With the right plan, you can absolutely move toward a softer, more harmonious look without overdoing it.
Good luck!

I have an elongated face - Which surgery can help to achieve a feminine and harmonious face shape? (Photos)

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