One of the most coveted human features is a beautiful and breathtaking smile, accompanied by dimples cute enough to make even the random person passing by envious.
Even if you were not blessed with cute dimples crowning your smile from birth, these magical features are easily attainable through dimple surgery. This cosmetic procedure has become increasingly popular in the United States and abroad as people catch on to the many benefits of such a quick and painless process.
What is a Dimple?
Dimples are small indentations located on the skin of different body parts, including the cheeks, chin, and lower back.
Dimples form from small openings in a cheek muscle called the buccinator. They are mainly genetic but can be easily created with a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure known as a dimpleplasty. Dimples can sometimes form due to a change in the zygomaticus major, a facial muscle. People whose zygomaticus major runs from the cheekbone down to the mouth do not have dimples, while those with dimples have a muscle that divides into two separate bundles.
Interestingly, dimples are considered to be medical defects, but many view them as a highly attractive feature that can take a smile take up a whole new level. Dimples are generally associated with youthfulness, a trait many long for as they begin entering older ages.
Although dimples occur entirely naturally, they can disappear as well. Age or weight changes can often cause dimples to lose their tone and depth.
Types of Dimples
Cheek Dimples
Cheek dimples are the most common of the lot. These can be located across many areas on the cheek, and it is common for some people to have a dimple on only one cheek.
Patients that usually undergo a dimple creation procedure often appear as if they have lost considerable weight.
Chin Dimple
Not as common as those occurring on the cheek, a chin dimple gives you what is often called cleft chins or butt chins. These naturally result from an imprint within the underlying structure of the jaw. They are considered a genetically dominant trait, so someone with a chin dimple likely inherited it from one of their parents.
Back Dimple
This dimple is also known as the dimple of Venus. It is the least known of the three, located in the lower back area, and more commonly found in women than men.
Can You Get Dimples Without Surgery?
If you were born without dimples, it is pretty much impossible to get them permanently from a nonsurgical procedure. You can try facial exercises, but the effects will not prove to be as effective or long-lasting.
Some people looking to get that dimpled smile have tried piercing their cheeks. Results are usually inconsistent and end up being very uncomfortable.
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dimple Surgery?
A good candidate for a dimpleplasty is anyone healthy overall. A surgeon will review your medical history to determine if you qualify for this procedure.
How is Dimple Surgery Done?
This procedure can be done under local anesthesia and at an outpatient facility, without having to go to a hospital. First, your surgeon will mark the area where you decide to have your dimple placed. Next, they will apply a topical anesthetic that takes about ten minutes to kick in. Then, the doctor creates cuts a hole in the skin to make a dimple, removing some muscle and fat in the process. After making the incision, your surgeon will position and tie a suture from one side of the cheek muscle to the other to permanently create the dimple.
The procedure is quite quick and doesn’t leave a patient in much pain. It takes around 30 minutes to complete, and you’ll be able to resume your daily routine about two days later. You will also need to meet with your doctor for a follow-up consultation a couple of weeks later.
Dimplelasties do not leave evident signs of surgery, as marks only showing up within the inside of the mouth.