Hi. yes. just select your model (object), the wire should be highlighted now.. and Edit > Duplicate. You might want to reset the settings on the duplicate before you do that also. now before you do anything right after you duplicate. pick your move tool and move the duplicate aside so you can work on it..
To work on only the face for your blind shapes.. you can change the it to face's and select all the lower faces, like below the neck. Press delete and you have something cool to work with.. and your original is just fine.
Now you can make even more duplicates of this one and put them off to the side for all your different expressions..

that explain it ? just let me know if I didn't make something clear.

Ps ( wispers, its Vertix’s not CV’s on polygons..)