Introduction

Dimples are charming indentations that appear on the cheeks, or sometimes on the chin, when a person smiles or makes facial expressions. Considered a unique beauty trait in many cultures worldwide, dimples add a youthful, playful, and attractive element to one’s facial appearance. While many people are born with natural dimples due to genetics, others may desire to have them created surgically for aesthetic enhancement.

Dimple creation, medically referred to as dimpleplasty, is a popular cosmetic procedure designed to create natural-looking dimples on the cheeks. This minimally invasive surgery has gained tremendous popularity due to its relatively simple technique, quick recovery, and ability to significantly enhance facial aesthetics and boost self-confidence.

This comprehensive guide explores everything about dimple creation—from its anatomical basis and causes, candidacy and diagnosis, surgical techniques, postoperative management, to potential risks and long-term considerations.

Dimples are primarily caused by a unique anatomical variation in the zygomaticus major muscle, the muscle responsible for lifting the cheeks during smiling:

Normally, the zygomaticus major muscle runs uninterrupted from the cheekbone to the corner of the mouth.

In individuals with dimples, this muscle divides into two distinct bundles or slips.

The skin above the bifurcated muscle is tethered to the underlying muscle during smiling, creating an indentation or dimple.

This muscular variation is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, meaning a single copy of the gene can cause the trait, making dimples more likely to run in families.