Back dimples are small indentations on the lower back, just above the buttocks, caused by a short ligament stretching between the skin and the spine where your pelvis connects to your sacrum. They’re a normal anatomical feature found in roughly 1 in 5 people, and they’re largely determined by genetics.
Why Some People Have Them
The two symmetrical indentations sit directly over the sacroiliac joints, where the base of your spine meets your pelvis. At these points, a short ligament connects the skin’s inner surface to the bony structures beneath. Where the ligament pulls the skin inward, a visible dimple forms. Because there’s no muscle or significant fat padding between the skin and bone at this precise spot, the indentation can be quite pronounced.
Whether you have back dimples comes down primarily to your skeletal structure and genetics. The trait is considered a benign autosomal dominant trait, meaning if one of your parents has it, you have a reasonable chance of inheriting it. The depth and prominence of these dimples varies from person to person based on factors like pelvic shape, ligament length, and how much subcutaneous fat sits over the area. People with lower body fat in the lower back tend to have more visible dimples, which is why they can seem to appear or disappear with changes in body composition.
Prevalence and Gender Differences
A study of 428 patients using CT imaging found that 19.4% had visible back dimples, split across 38 men and 45 women. While both sexes develop them, back dimples are more common in people born female. This likely reflects differences in pelvic anatomy: wider, more curved female pelvic structures can make the sacroiliac joints more prominent beneath the skin.
When they appear on women, they’re informally called “dimples of Venus,” named after the Roman goddess of beauty. On men, they’re sometimes called “dimples of Apollo.” Both terms are informal but widely recognized, even within the medical community. The anatomical name is fossae lumbales laterales.
Can You Create or Deepen Back Dimples?
Because the dimples are a product of bone structure, ligament placement, and genetics, no exercise will create them from scratch if the underlying anatomy isn’t there. However, reducing body fat in the lower back area and strengthening the muscles around the lower spine and glutes can make existing dimples more visible. If you’ve noticed your back dimples becoming more or less apparent over time, changes in weight or body composition are the most likely explanation.
Back Dimples vs. Sacral Dimples
It’s worth knowing the difference between back dimples and sacral dimples, which are an entirely separate feature. Back dimples (dimples of Venus) sit above the buttocks on either side of the lower spine. They’re always in a pair, they’re shallow, and they carry no medical significance whatsoever.
A sacral dimple is a single small indentation that appears at or very near the crease of the buttocks, closer to the tailbone. Most sacral dimples are harmless, especially when they’re small and shallow. They’re typically noticed on newborns during initial physical exams. A sacral dimple only raises concern when it appears large, deep, or positioned far from the buttock crease, or when it’s accompanied by a tuft of hair, skin tags, or discoloration nearby. In those cases, a healthcare provider may order imaging to rule out underlying spinal cord issues.
Health Claims and Attractiveness
You may have come across claims that back dimples indicate better circulation, easier orgasms, or superior overall health. None of these have peer-reviewed evidence behind them. The dimples are simply a surface feature created by the way skin attaches to bone at a specific anatomical point. They don’t reflect anything about your vascular health or sexual function.
What does have some supporting evidence is the idea that back dimples are perceived as attractive. Some researchers have suggested this may trace back to an evolutionary preference: visible dimples of Venus could signal favorable pelvic structure for childbearing, including pelvic stability and the ability to bear weight during pregnancy. Whether or not that theory holds up fully, the cultural association between back dimples and attractiveness is well established, going all the way back to the naming connection with Venus herself.