Muscles involved in a "zygomatic" (i.e., genuine) smile:
- Zygomaticus major and minor – bilateral - (4): These muscles pull up the corners of the mouth.
- Orbicularis oculi (2): One of these muscles encircles each eye and causes crinkling.
- Levator labii superioris - bilateral (2): Pulls up corner of lip and nose.
- Levator anguli oris – bilateral (2): Also helps elevate angle of mouth.
- Risorius – bilateral (2): Pulls corner of mouth to the side.
Despite the fact that smiling uses more muscles, David Song believes it takes less effort than frowning. People tend to smile more frequently, so the relevant muscles are in better shape.
A superficial, homecoming-queen smile requires little more than the two risorius muscles. So if your goal in expressing emotion is really to minimize effort or "wrinkling", go for insincere.
Some less desirable or “negative lines” are associated with an analytical or even an angry face are caused by frowning. It takes 11 muscles to frown:
Principal muscles involved in a frown:
- Orbicularis oculi (2).
- Platysma (2): Pulls down lips and wrinkles skin of lower face. Bilateral (though joined at midline).
- Corrugator supercilii – bilateral - & procerus – unilateral - (3): Furrow brow.
- Orbicularis oris – unilateral - (1): Encircles mouth; purses lips
- Mentalis – unilateral (1): Depresses lower lip.
Read about the potential impact of injectables on your personal and professional life:
Click here
The Leading Injectable Centers of the World® Quality in Beauty
References:
David H. Song, MD, FACS, plastic surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Chicago Hospitals
Cecil Adams