An increasingly popular cosmetic procedure is dimple creation, or dimpleplasty as you may also hear it referred to. This is a minor surgical procedure that is typically carried out using a local anaesthetic, so you’ll be awake throughout the process, but even though it is considered minor in nature it is still important to know what to expect so you can decide if it’s the right option for you.

Natural dimples are thought to be genetic, although it’s still not entirely clear just how they are inherited. While cheek dimples are perhaps the most common place to find these interesting features, they can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the chin and the lower back.

It’s perhaps no wonder that cheek dimples in particular are growing in popularity as a cosmetic procedure, as they’re often associated with youth and beauty. Even more interestingly, in Chinese culture these dimples are even considered to be a symbol of good luck!

And, of course, celebrity culture has a big part to play in why these dimples are so very popular right now.

In fact, in 2009, our aesthetic, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Shailesh Vadodaria started receiving huge volumes of enquiries relating to this kind of procedure, thanks to the stratospheric rise of pop star Cheryl Cole… and it’s shown no signs of stopping ever since!

What does dimpleplasty involve?

Dimpleplasty is a comparatively simple procedure to carry out, with small incisions made inside the cheek to create a small hole in the muscle therein. A suture is then passed through this hole and tied to leave a ‘dimple’ in the cheek, with the entire procedure typically taking place in approximately 30 minutes.

As with any cosmetic surgery, no matter how minor, it’s important to make sure you’ve had a full consultation with an experienced, professional and certified surgeon so you know what your options are, all the risks involved and so you can ask any questions you may have to help you decide if you want to go ahead with the procedure.

And remember that you do face potential risks and complications after dimple creation surgery, as you would with any such procedure, so it’s important that you do weigh up the risks and benefits before going ahead.

What are the benefits of dimple creation?

There are many reasons why someone might consider this kind of procedure and there are many associated desires to the surgery, including boosting your self-confidence and self-esteem and making you feel more attractive and thus more confident. These are subjective in nature.

The results are also long-lasting and the dimples should continue to be visible as long as you maintain a healthy weight and your appearance doesn’t change with other facial surgery.

You’ll also find that recovery times are quite short. You’ll be able to go home once the local anaesthetic has worn off and any swelling or bruising that appears should resolve itself over the next few weeks. The sutures used to close the cheek incision will also dissolve within two weeks, so you’ll be able to get back to life as you know it sooner rather than later.