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Why we develop a sad face even when happy
It’s because of Marionette Lines, the mischief of genes and lifestyle. Aesthetic technology however is here to help with solutions, says aesthetic expert
DUBAI: Do you have a happy face? The question is deceptively simple. What it is actually asking you is, does your face have marionette lines? You know, the kind that puppets, also called marionettes, have? Where the corners of their mouth are always turned downwards, giving them a sad look? Well, puppets come with strings attached (to their mouth) and hence have an existential problem, but you don’t. So, if the lower part of your face is developing what are called marionette lines, giving you a permanently sad expression, you don’t have to resign to your plight.
What are marionette lines? “These lines or wrinkles run vertically down the sides of your mouth down to your chin, leading to sagging in the lower half of your face, thus giving you a ‘sad face’” says Dr Majd AlZoughbi, Specialist Dermatology, Aesthetica Clinic, Dubai.
And you don’t have to be old to have them. “These types of wrinkles tend to develop by your 40s, but you may start seeing signs of them in your 20s and 30,” says Dr Majd.
Why do we get them? There are many reasons, according to Dr Majd.
“Marionette lines are caused by loss of natural collagen and elastin that occurs with age. This leads to a loss of volume in the skin tissue and facial volume as you get older that often results in deep creases around the mouth area.” People with very pronounced and animated facial expressions can also get marionette lines, she says.
Lifestyle plays an important role too, as does drastic dieting, weight gain and excessive sun exposure, all of which can impact facial tissue volume and appearance.
And then there is the matter of genes. “There is a genetic predisposition to marionette lines,” says Dr Majd.
Maybe your mother, grandmother or aunt has marionette lines and so you inherited the look, but the good news is, aesthetic technology has many ways to tackle the problem.
They are called the Happy Face treatments. What do they do? They diminish the depth and severity of the lines, giving you a more uplifted, happy look.
“There are Fillers, Botox injections, Fractional Laser or Chemical Peels, Threads for lift and volume instead of filler, use of radio frequency for tightening skin, and finally, in the case of very deep lines in the elderly, surgery,” says Dr Majd. (See box for details of treatments).
“The treatment can be done directly to the (marionette) lines or around the lines like in the preauricular area (front of the ear area),” she says. She concurs with the belief that marionette lines can impact an individual’s confidence. “That’s why they are called ‘sad lines’,” she says. “People with these lines often get asked why they are feeling sad when they are not; the lines make them appear so. Marionette lines also alter the way a person looks in a photograph by making them look downcast.”
It’s not just women who are plagued by this; men also can develop marionette lines. “But men are less interested in treating this problem,” says Dr Majd.
BOX
HOW TO GET A HAPPY FACE
Name of treatment: Filler
How it is done: Injections to fill directly into the lines.
Duration: 15 minutes
Results last: For 6 months.
Frequency: Once to twice a year
Name of treatment: Botox
How it is done: Injections for temporary muscle paralysis (Depressor Anguli Oris muscle, the one that pulls down the corner of your mouth).
Duration: 5 minutes.
Results last: 4 months.
Frequency: 3 times a year.
Name of treatment: Fractional laser or chemical peels
How it is done: Medium depth peeling to boost collagen.
Duration: 30 minutes.
Results last: Accumulated.
Frequency: 3 times a year.
Name of treatment: Thread Lift
How it is done: Procedure that uses sutures for subtle lift or volume instead of filler.
Duration: 1 hour.
Results last: 8 months to 1 year.
Frequency: Once a year.
Name of treatment: Radio frequency.
How it is done: Using a machine to tighten the skin without downtime.
Duration: 20 minutes.
Results last: Accumulated.
Frequency: Once a month.
BOX 2
Post-treatment precautions:
1. Apply ice to the site for 24 hours to prevent swelling.
2. Do not massage the area for 2 days after treatment.
3. Avoid workout or anything that will cause face movement.
BOX 3
BEST PRACTICES FOR SKIN HEALTH:
1) Follow a daily skincare regime: That includes anti-aging serum and moisturizer to keep skin hydrated. Use skin serums containing peptides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide (vitamin B3), vitamins C and E, vitamin A derivatives, such as retinoids.
2) Maintain a steady weight: This will prevent your face and facial skin from weight loss or weight gain.
3) Reduce sun exposure, especially during midday.
4) Eat a healthy diet: Drink plenty of water every day, include generous portions of anti-inflammatory foods, such fruits and vegetables, fish and unprocessed grains.
5) Stay away from these skin villains: Smoking, excessive caffeine, stress and poor sleep.
(Information: Dr Majd AlZoughbi, Aesthetica Clinic).
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