Perfecting the smile: Dermatix, Operation Smile give children every reason to smile

MANILA, Philippines - It takes 43 muscles to frown and only 17 muscles to smile. Judging by that simple piece of trivia, smiling should be the easiest act to do. It does not take a lot to smile. You only need a good reason to do it.

Reasons to smile are bountiful this 2013 as Dermatix, in partnership with Operation Smile, is giving 30 children with cleft chins and palates the ability to smile on the event of the foundation’s 30th anniversary.

More likely than not, those born with cleft chin or palates have difficulty in smiling. They simply do not have the chops to do so, which is unfortunate given the many reasons for them to smile. Their scars are in the way.

Scars have lingering effects on not only the physical but also the emotional, psychological and social aspects of a person with a facial deformity.

Even though scars are the body’s way of healing itself after a major trauma, it leaves marks of their former pain. Scars take away a person’s self-esteem as he or she wallows in the endless taunts of people.

Imagine a child growing up to such an environment while he or she tries to grin and bears it even without a proper smile to grin with.

Dubbed as the scar expert, Dermatix is giving them a reason to smile — and it’s not just because they can finally physically do so. A perfected smile erases every hint of the pain they once smile. It gives emotions the avenue to express themselves through smile and laughter.

Dermatix is the Operation Smile’s perfect partner in creating smiles. It is formulated with CPX (cyclopentasiloxane) technology for better flattening and softening of scars while providing vitamin C for photoprotection and skin lightening.

Dermatix is recommended by plastic surgeons and is easy to apply. It is safe for children and has excellent cosmetic properties that give it a smooth and silky feel. It promises scar reduction in as early as seven days for people who went through facial surgery.

Operation Smile is in over 60 countries, including China, Vietnam, Venezuela, Russia and the Philippines where it was founded 30 years ago. It has given 24,000 Filipinos perfect smiles.