Dimple Creation (Dimpleplasty)

Overview

Dimple creation, or dimpleplasty, is a minor cosmetic procedure that creates a dimple in the cheek — or occasionally the chin — for people who would like this feature. Natural dimples occur where a small connection exists between the cheek muscle and the overlying skin; dimpleplasty recreates that effect with a small suture.

The procedure is done entirely through the inside of the mouth, so there is no visible scar. It is quick and minimally invasive, though like any surgery it carries risks and the result cannot be guaranteed to be permanent or perfectly symmetric.

This page is educational only and not medical advice. Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed.

Who May Need This

Dimpleplasty may appeal to people who would like cheek or chin dimples as a facial feature and prefer a permanent alternative to makeup. It is a purely elective, aesthetic choice.

Good candidates are in good health, have good oral health, do not smoke or will stop, and hold realistic expectations about the appearance and the small chance of fading or asymmetry. A qualified facial plastic or maxillofacial surgeon confirms suitability and plans placement after examination.

When It May Be Recommended

Because it is entirely elective, dimple creation is chosen rather than medically recommended. A surgeon may proceed when a healthy person understands the procedure, the aesthetics, and the risks, and has agreed on the dimple's position and depth.

The decision simply weighs the desired feature against the small risks of a minor facial procedure. Placement is individualized to suit your smile and face.

Diagnosis and Evaluation

Evaluation includes examining the cheeks, discussing where you would like the dimple, and marking the planned position while you smile so it sits naturally. The surgeon assesses your oral health and the local anatomy, including the location of facial nerve branches and the salivary duct.

Your general health, medications, and smoking status are reviewed. Because the effect is a permanent change, careful planning of position and honest discussion of expectations are important.

Treatment Options

Approaches to creating a dimple include:

• Suture (percutaneous) technique — a stitch links the inner cheek lining to the skin to form the dimple.
• Small tissue-removal technique — removing a tiny amount of inner cheek tissue before placing the suture, used in some cases.
• Chin dimple creation — a similar concept adapted for a chin dimple.
• No procedure — using makeup or accepting your natural appearance, always a valid choice.

How It Is Performed

Dimpleplasty is performed under local anesthesia and usually takes around 30 minutes. The surgeon numbs the cheek, makes a small opening inside the mouth, and places an absorbable suture that connects the inner lining to the undersurface of the skin, tethering it slightly inward to create the dimple.

No external incision is made, and the mouth incision is small. Initially the dimple may be visible even at rest, softening over a few weeks to appear mainly when you smile as the tissues heal.

Preparation

Preparation typically includes good oral hygiene, avoiding blood-thinning medications as directed, and agreeing on dimple position and depth. Because it is a minor procedure, extensive preparation is usually not needed.

If travelling for treatment, bring your records, plan for a soft diet and mouth rinses for a couple of weeks, and allow a short recovery. Set realistic expectations about the initial deeper look and the final result.

Benefits and Expected Goals

The goal of dimple creation is a natural-looking cheek or chin dimple that appears with your smile, achieved without external scars and with modest downtime. Many people enjoy the added facial character.

Benefits depend on healing and technique, and results can vary — the dimple may soften over time, and symmetry cannot be guaranteed. Your surgeon can help set realistic expectations.

Risks and Possible Complications

Although minor, dimpleplasty carries real risks.

• Infection at the intraoral site
• Asymmetry, or a dimple that is too deep, too shallow, or fades
• A dimple visible at rest for longer than expected
• Temporary swelling, bruising, or a firm nodule as healing settles
• Rarely, injury to a facial nerve branch or the salivary duct

Your surgeon will explain the risks in your case and the plan if a touch-up or correction is needed.

Recovery, Follow-up & Aftercare

Recovery is usually quick. Mild swelling, tenderness, and a firm feeling inside the cheek are common for one to two weeks, and a soft diet plus prescribed mouth rinses keep the site clean. Many people return to routine activities within a day or two.

The dimple is often deeper at first and softens over a few weeks to appear mainly with smiling. Follow oral-care instructions closely, and arrange follow-up before travelling home so healing and symmetry can be reviewed.

Medical Tourism Planning

If considering dimple creation abroad, choose an accredited clinic or JCI- or ISO-accredited hospital and a surgeon experienced in facial cosmetic procedures who knows the cheek anatomy. Ask to see examples of their dimpleplasty results.

Plan a short in-country stay for the procedure and a brief follow-up, and confirm how any complication or touch-up would be handled after you return home. Bring your records and consider medical travel insurance.

Estimated Cost Factors

Cost depends on the country and clinic, the surgeon's fees, whether one or two dimples are created, and follow-up. It is a minor procedure, so costs are generally lower than major facial surgery, though any touch-up adds to the total.

Many destinations offer minor cosmetic procedures at a fraction of typical US prices, but figures vary by case and online estimates are only a guide. Always request a personalized written quote that itemizes what is included before deciding.

Choosing a Hospital or Specialist

Look for accreditation and a surgeon experienced in facial cosmetic surgery who understands the cheek's nerves and salivary duct and plans placement carefully. Confirm their technique and approach to asymmetry or a fading dimple.

Ask about international patient support, follow-up, and touch-up policy, and review examples. Careful planning and honest discussion of the small risks and variable results are signs of a quality practice.

Alternatives

Alternatives include makeup techniques that mimic a dimple temporarily, and simply accepting your natural appearance. Since dimpleplasty is purely elective, choosing no procedure is always reasonable.

Each option differs in permanence and effort. Discuss your goals with a qualified surgeon so the decision fits what you want.

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• Where exactly will the dimple be, and how will it look when I smile versus at rest?
• How long before it settles to a natural appearance?
• How do you protect the facial nerve and salivary duct?
• What happens if it is too deep, too shallow, or fades?
• What are the risks, and how are infection or asymmetry handled?
• When can I eat normally and travel home?
• What exactly is included in the written cost estimate, including touch-ups?