Jl. Paletz et al., THE SHAPE OF A NORMAL SMILE - IMPLICATIONS FOR FACIAL PARALYSIS RECONSTRUCTION, Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 93(4), 1994, pp. 784-789
Sophisticated smile reconstruction for facial paralysis requires an un
derstanding of the facial movements during a normal smile. This study
analyzes the direction and extent of movement of the upper and lower l
ips, nasal labial folds, and nasal base during smiling. Twenty normal
subjects were analyzed using cine studies. A stop frame vector analysi
s was done on reference points on the lips and lower face. The greates
t movement occurred at the commissure and upper lip. Intersubject vari
ation in direction and extent of movement is great. Intrasubject varia
tion in movement in comparing left and right sides was also quite larg
e. Techniques of facial paralysis reconstruction that apply forces to
the mouth, which mimic the vectors of movement on the patients' normal
side, are most likely to provide a symmetrical smile reconstruction.