The indentations sometimes seen on the lower back, just above the buttocks, are commonly known as Dimples of Venus, or fossae lumbales laterales. These symmetrical features are located over the sacroiliac joints, where the base of the spine connects to the pelvis. Their presence sparks the question of whether they can be intentionally acquired through diet or exercise. While often considered a mark of beauty, their existence is determined by underlying anatomical structure rather than muscle development.
The Underlying Anatomy of Dimples of Venus
Dimples of Venus are not formed by muscle or fat, but by the specific configuration of connective tissue in the lower back. These indentations are a superficial reflection of the two sacroiliac joints, which connect the sacrum to the ilium of the pelvis. They sit directly over the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), a bony prominence.
The indentation is created by a short, unyielding ligament that stretches between the skin and the underlying bone structure. This ligament tethers the skin directly to the fascia covering the PSIS, pulling the surface inward. Because the area lacks significant muscle tissue, this tethering creates the characteristic depression seen on the lower back.
This anatomical configuration explains why the dimples occur in a specific, fixed location on the body. When these features appear in men, they are sometimes referred to as “Dimples of Apollo.” The structural cause means they are fixed points of connection between skin and bone.
Genetic Influence and Natural Occurrence
The existence of back dimples is largely predetermined by genetic inheritance. The length and tension of the ligaments connecting the skin to the pelvis are inherited traits. If a person’s genetic blueprint does not include the specific short ligament necessary to tether the skin to the bone, the dimples will not be present.
While genetics dictates the underlying structure, body composition significantly influences their visibility. A lower body fat percentage can make existing, genetically inherited dimples much more prominent. The presence of excess subcutaneous fat in the lower back can fill the natural depression, obscuring the dimples entirely.
Weight loss or a generally lean physique may reveal dimples that were previously hidden, but it cannot create them. Studies suggest that a body fat percentage of around 22 percent in women and 32 percent in men may improve their visibility. The primary factor remains the congenital ligamentous attachment.
Addressing the Question of Acquisition
Whether back dimples can be acquired through intentional effort like exercise or diet is directly answered by their anatomy. Since the dimples are formed by a ligament connecting the skin to the pelvis, they are structural features, not muscular ones. Therefore, no amount of core strengthening, lower back exercises, or weight training can create a new back dimple if the genetic structure is absent.
Exercise focused on the lower back and gluteal muscles, such as hyperextensions or bridges, can tone the surrounding area. This may help make existing dimples more defined by reducing surrounding fat. However, building muscle does not create the necessary skin-to-bone tethering; exercise can only enhance the appearance of genetically present dimples.
For individuals who do not possess the genetic predisposition, acquiring back dimples requires cosmetic intervention. The only way to artificially create the indentations is to selectively remove the subcutaneous fat connecting the skin to the underlying fascia over the sacroiliac joints. This is achieved through procedures like liposculpture or VASER liposuction.
These procedures specifically sculpt the area by removing fat, sometimes using a cannula to create the depression and accentuate the surrounding contours. Non-surgical options also exist, such as injectable compounds like deoxycholic acid (Kybella), designed to dissolve fat cells. While these procedures mimic the features, they are not a natural acquisition and carry inherent risks and recovery times.