The face and human interactions

Psychologist Albert Mehrabian described 3 components in face-to-face communications namely,  verbal, vocal and visual. Also known as the Mehrabian Rule, this rule states that 7% of communication involves words, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language. Usually the 3 components have to be congruent to support each other in communication. When words and body language fail to agree, one tends to believe the body language. 

People see, observe and judge others via their facial expressions. Facial expressions are therefore essential for daily life to enable effective communication.

Often times, people express concern that their facial features are communicating unintended signals.

 Often times, people express concern that their facial features are 

communicating unintended signals such as disapproval (frown lines), tiredness or disinterest (droopy eyelids), aging (forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet), worry (droopy angle of mouth, eyebrow  and frown lines).

Hyperactive corrugator muscles can send out unintended signals of worry or disapproval. 

Dental and skull deformity can also impair the ability to express oneself, with an observer potentially misinterpreting  one’s emotions or personality. For example, people with short chin, protruding incisors,  or gummy smiles may appear unintelligent. People with huge jaw  tend to appear more aggressive and a smile may appear more like a grimace. Those with flat cheek bones or saggy face often have down-turned angle of the mouth, thus looking angry or sad.

A small eye with single eyelid and wide inter-eye distance is sometimes misinterpreted as disinterest or tired

In other words, the face can malfunction as an organ of communication. As a great deal of human communication takes place without the need for words,  facial expression is immensely  significant in non-verbal communication. As aesthetic medical treatment is increasingly accessible, more people are seeking such services to improve their quality of life in terms of social interactions, carrier development and personal satisfaction.

Droopy brow and deep nose-lip fold with saggy mouth angle may appear as sad or angry.