A student who has has never been able to smile due to a rare condition is set to undergo radical surgery.
Linen Håkanson, 24, was born with Moebius syndrome, a neurological disorder which causes facial paralysis.
When laughing, Linen’s mouth moves down instead of up while the condition also prevents her from frowning and affects the movement in her right eye.
Despite having an operation to help facial movement six years ago, Linen was unhappy with the outcome.
Now set to have further surgery, it is hoped the procedure to lower the upper lip and raise the eyebrows will allow Linen to smile for the first time.
Linen Håkanson, 24, from Stockholm, Sweden, was born with Moebius syndrome, a neurological disorder which causes facial paralysis
They said: ‘I have not let the condition hold me back, although it is difficult when people stare.
‘One of the things I always wanted was to be able to smile when I opened the door for someone and they said thank you. I couldn’t smile to say you’re welcome.
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‘People stare all the time. It’s annoying. Most of the time I don’t care, but if I am having a bad day, I just wish I could be normal.’
Growing up with the condition, Linen decided at an early age to have corrective surgery.
When laughing, Linen’s mouth moves down instead of up while the condition prevents her from frowning and affects the movement in her right eye. Despite having an operation to help facial movement six years ago (pictured), she was unhappy with the outcome
Surgeons turned some of Linen’s muscles 180 degrees, before re-attaching them, to improve facial movement (pictured after surgery)
She realised she would never be able to smile when she was eight-years-old and knew she wanted surgery.
And at 18, surgeons turned some of Linen’s muscles 180 degrees, before re-attaching them, to improve facial movement.
The operation allowed her to be able to move her cheeks – but Linen didn’t like the way she looked when she smiled.
Now Linen is set to undergo further surgery six years on to lower the upper lip and raise the eyebrows to create a more natural expression.
The journalism student, from Stockholm, Sweden, says the condition can make meeting new people a struggle.
Linen said: ‘It’s quite difficult to communicate with people, because they can’t read my facial expressions.
‘When I laugh and my smile goes down instead of up, they don’t always understand, so I’m nervous they’ll think I’m weird.’
However, despite the condition, Linen said they were ‘blessed’ they had never been bullied at school.
But the non-binary trans – someone who doesn’t refer to themselves by a gender – is set to have further surgery to lower their upper lip and raise their eyebrows
And the upside down smile hasn’t been an issue for Linen when it comes to dating. Linen found love online two-and-a half years ago through Facebook with fellow student Samuel, 28, and the couple are hoping to move in together soon
They added: ‘There have been a few comments but it was never that bad.
‘Classmates would ask why my face was like that when I was younger, but they weren’t mean.’
WHAT IS MOEBIUS SYNDROME?
Moebius syndrome is a rare neurological condition that affects the muscles that control facial expressions and eye movement.
The symptoms are present from birth as patients are unable to smile, frown or raise their eyebrows.
They often also have a small chin and mouth and a short tongue while dental abnormalities are also common.
The condition also affects the muscles that control the eyes so patients have to move their heads to look from side to side.
In some cases, patients are unable to blink or close their eyes which can cause eye dryness or irritation.
Other features of the syndrome include bone abnormalities in the hands and feet, week muscles, hearing loss and delayed development.
Moebius syndrome is thought to affect between one in 50,000 and one in 500,000 people – but its cause is unknown.
Source: US National Library of Medicine
And the upside down smile hasn’t been an issue for Linen when it comes to dating.
Linen found love online two-and-a half years ago through Facebook with fellow student Samuel, 28, and the couple are hoping to move in together soon.
They met in an online Facebook group and when he saw Linen’s profile he started a conversation.
Linen said: ‘My boyfriend always says that he thinks I am beautiful no matter what.
‘The condition doesn’t bother him. He is very protective when people stare and he gets annoyed for me.’
Linen has felt less isolated since finding a community of people online who have the syndrome.
They have met people on the internet who also have the condition and know exactly what she is going through.
Linen has produced YouTube videos giving advice and support to fellow sufferers.
They added: ‘You can live a normal life with Moebius.
‘I think parents who have kids with Moebius need to be open and talk to them, so they don’t feel too different.
‘I have Moebius, Moebius doesn’t have me. You should never let it stop you from doing what you want.’