Cheek dimples are small indentations on the face that appear when a person smiles, a feature many people find highly appealing. This subtle variation in facial anatomy has led to interest in both non-permanent cosmetic methods and lasting surgical options. The quest for this particular facial attribute presents a choice between attempting to mimic the effect temporarily or pursuing a lasting change through a medical procedure. Understanding the biological origin of these features and the mechanics of the methods used to create them is important for anyone considering either approach.
Understanding How Natural Dimples Form
The presence of natural cheek dimples is directly linked to a variation in the structure of the Zygomaticus Major muscle, which is primarily responsible for raising the corners of the mouth when smiling. In people without dimples, this muscle typically extends from the cheekbone to the corner of the mouth in a single band. In those with dimples, however, the muscle may split into two separate bundles, sometimes referred to as a bifid Zygomaticus Major muscle.
This split causes a portion of the muscle to attach to the underside of the skin, or dermis. When the muscle contracts during a smile, this attachment pulls the skin inward, creating the indentation. This anatomical difference is generally considered a genetically inherited trait, often displaying a dominant pattern. The dimple is essentially a small, tethered depression that only becomes visible when the underlying muscle is activated.
Non-Surgical Methods for Creating Temporary Dimples
For those seeking to create the appearance of dimples without a surgical commitment, several non-invasive methods exist that focus on temporary illusion or muscle manipulation.
Facial Exercises
Facial exercises are a popular approach, often involving pressing the cheeks inward or holding a wide smile while applying pressure with fingers or a blunt object to the desired dimple location. This practice aims to condition the facial muscles or create a temporary crease. However, there is no scientific evidence that these exercises can produce a permanent anatomical change.
Dimple Trainers
Specialized facial devices, sometimes called dimple trainers, operate on the principle of constant pressure to create a temporary indentation. These tools apply sustained force to the cheek tissue, similar to how a piercing might alter the skin’s surface. The resulting indent is purely superficial and will fade once the pressure is removed, leaving no lasting structural alteration.
Makeup Contouring
Makeup contouring provides the quickest and most controllable way to achieve the visual effect of dimples. This technique involves using a darker shade of makeup, like a matte brown eyeshadow or contour powder, to draw a small, crescent-shaped shadow on the cheek. Applying this shadow just outside the corner of the mouth creates an optical illusion of depth and indentation. This method allows for precise placement and immediate results, but the effect is only visible until the makeup is removed.
Dimpleplasty: The Surgical Procedure
The surgical creation of dimples, known as Dimpleplasty, is a minimally invasive procedure designed to mimic the natural muscle-to-skin tethering. The procedure is typically performed in a surgeon’s office using local anesthesia to numb the inside of the cheek.
The surgeon makes a small incision, usually a few millimeters long, on the inside of the cheek where the dimple is desired. Because the cut is made inside the mouth, there is no visible external scarring on the face. The surgeon then uses a fine suture to connect the deeper layer of the skin, the dermis, to the underlying cheek muscle, often the buccinator muscle.
This suture is tied to create an internal adhesion, pulling the skin inward and forming the indentation. The procedure usually takes less than an hour, and the patient can return home shortly after it is complete. Immediately following the surgery, the dimple is often visible even when the face is at rest. Over the following weeks and months, the initial swelling subsides, and the dimple becomes a dynamic feature, appearing primarily when the patient smiles as the muscle contracts.
Evaluating the Risks and Long-Term Outcomes
Non-surgical methods offer no proven path to lasting results, and the effects are either temporary or purely illusory. Facial exercises and specialized tools do not create the necessary anatomical defect in the muscle structure to form a permanent dimple. For these methods, the primary outcome is a temporary change in appearance that quickly reverts once the practice stops.
Dimpleplasty carries several risks inherent to surgical intervention. Common temporary side effects include swelling, bruising, and mild discomfort in the cheek area that subsides within a few days to a week. More serious, though rare, complications can include infection at the surgical site or damage to the buccal branch of the facial nerve, which could potentially affect facial movement.
The long-term success of the surgical dimple depends on the formation of internal scar tissue that maintains the connection between the muscle and the skin after the dissolvable suture is absorbed. There is a possibility that the dimple may fade or disappear entirely over time if the suture loosens or the scar tissue does not form adequately. If the tethering is too tight, the dimple may continue to appear as a deep or unnatural-looking indentation when the face is relaxed. Consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon is necessary to discuss these outcomes and to establish realistic expectations regarding the appearance and permanence of the results.