Dimpleplasty, often called dimple surgery, is a cosmetic procedure that creates a small indentation on the cheek to simulate a natural dimple. This minimally invasive surgery has gained popularity among people seeking to enhance their smile and facial aesthetics. The entire process is typically performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia, often taking less than an hour to complete. The primary concern for most individuals considering this procedure is the long-term stability and permanence of the result. Understanding the surgical technique and the body’s healing response provides a clearer picture of the longevity of the surgically created dimple.
The Mechanism of Dimple Creation
A naturally occurring dimple is the result of a small defect or tether in the buccinator muscle, which causes the overlying skin to indent when the person smiles. Dimpleplasty is designed to artificially recreate this anatomical connection. The surgeon makes a small incision inside the cheek, ensuring there are no external scars.
The procedure involves removing a tiny amount of tissue, sometimes including a small piece of the buccinator muscle, to create a subtle depression beneath the skin. A suture is then passed through the inside of the cheek to secure the skin to the deeper cheek tissue or muscle, creating the instant dimple.
The goal of the procedure is the body’s reaction to the suture. Over the following weeks, as the suture dissolves or remains in place, the body forms internal scar tissue around the connection point. This internal scarring permanently tethers the skin to the underlying muscle, ensuring the indentation remains.
Expected Longevity of Dimpleplasty Results
When performed correctly, dimpleplasty is generally intended to provide a permanent result, with some sources citing a success rate around 90%. The permanence relies entirely on the successful formation of a stable, internal scar between the skin and the cheek muscle. If this scar tissue forms adequately during the healing process, the result should be long-lasting.
Immediately following the surgery, the dimple is typically visible even when the face is at rest. This static indentation can last anywhere from several days to a few months. As the tissue heals and swelling subsides, the indentation should soften, becoming a dynamic dimple that only appears when the facial muscles contract, such as during smiling.
While the result is considered permanent in most cases, the appearance may change over a lifetime. Factors like the natural aging process, changes in facial fat volume, and gravity can affect how pronounced the dimple appears over many years. The dimple may become less visible if significant weight gain occurs, which adds bulk to the cheek area.
Anatomical and Procedural Influences on Permanence
Several factors dictate the final outcome and stability of the surgically created dimple. The patient’s individual anatomy, including the thickness and elasticity of the skin, plays a significant role in how well the dimple “sets.” Thicker cheeks with more subcutaneous fat may require a more robust surgical technique to ensure a lasting connection is formed.
The procedural factors related to the surgeon’s technique are also highly influential in achieving permanence. These include the precise depth of the suture placement and the method used to engage the skin and muscle tissue. Surgeons may use permanent sutures to ensure the connection is maintained indefinitely, while others rely on absorbable sutures and the body’s scarring process.
If the initial suture breaks or if insufficient scar tissue develops during the critical healing period, the dimple may become shallow or disappear entirely. This is considered an undercorrection or fading of the result. The experience and consistent technique of the surgeon are directly linked to the predictability and stability of the outcome.
Managing Fading or Undesired Long-Term Changes
In cases where the dimple fades significantly or disappears, a revision procedure can be considered to restore or deepen the indentation. Revision surgery involves re-suturing the tissue to recreate the connection and encourage new scar formation. It is generally recommended to wait at least three months, and sometimes up to a year, between the initial surgery and a revision to allow all swelling and inflammation to resolve fully.
The most common reason for a revision is a patient requesting further deepening of an existing dimple. Attempting to fully reverse the procedure and return the cheek to its exact pre-operative state is significantly more complex and not always entirely successful. The internal scar tissue that was intentionally created to make the dimple permanent can make a complete reversal challenging.
If a patient is unhappy with the result, the surgeon may attempt to adjust the existing connection or create a new one. However, patients must understand that there is always a possibility of overcorrection, undercorrection, or asymmetry even with revision attempts. Consulting with a surgeon experienced in these delicate procedures is necessary to manage expectations regarding long-term correction and modification.