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Overview
What Is Dimple Surgery?
Dimple surgery, also called dimpleplasty or dimple creation surgery, is a minor cosmetic operation designed to create a small indentation in the cheek. A surgeon creates a controlled connection between tissue inside the cheek and the skin above it, producing a dimple that may be visible when the face is relaxed, smiling, or both. This differs from naturally occurring dimples, which result from a person’s facial anatomy and develop without surgery.
Who It's For
Who Is Dimple Surgery For?
Dimple surgery is generally considered for healthy adults who want a cosmetic cheek or chin dimple. Before choosing the procedure, it is important to have realistic expectations because the final depth, position, symmetry, and visibility may differ from natural dimples or photographs. If you are asking, “How can I get a dimple?” a consultation with a qualified surgeon can help determine whether your anatomy and goals are suitable.
- Good overall health and the ability to heal after a minor operation
- Nonsmoking status or willingness to stop smoking for the period advised by the surgeon
- Realistic expectations about dimple depth, placement, symmetry, and permanence
- A clear understanding that results may change as swelling resolves and tissues heal
- Willingness to discuss facial anatomy and the desired location with a qualified surgeon
Cost considerations
What shapes the price?
Dimple surgery cost and dimple operation cost vary according to the surgeon, geographic location, anesthesia plan, facility fees, and whether additional procedures are performed. Ask for a personalized estimate that explains what is included instead of relying on a universal price.
Preparation
How to Prepare for Dimple Surgery
During the consultation, the surgeon reviews your medical history, allergies, medications, smoking status, and any previous facial procedures. They also examine your cheek anatomy and discuss the preferred dimple location, depth, symmetry, and expected appearance. Use this visit to ask about the dimple operation, anesthesia, risks, recovery, and what happens if the result is not as expected.
- Follow the surgeon’s instructions about prescription medicines, supplements, and medicines that may increase bleeding risk
- Arrange transportation and assistance if sedation is planned or if you may be uncomfortable after surgery
- Arrive with a clean face and follow any instructions about makeup, skincare, or oral care
- Prepare soft foods and any recommended oral rinses or medicines at home
- Plan time for rest, follow-up, and temporary limits on strenuous activity
During the Procedure / What to Expect
What Happens During Dimple Surgery?
The usual dimple creation surgery begins with facial marking to confirm the planned position. The area is numbed with local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation depending on the patient and surgeon. Through a small incision inside the mouth, the surgeon creates an attachment between tissue in the cheek and the overlying skin so that a controlled indentation forms. The opening inside the mouth is typically closed with dissolvable sutures.
Risks & Benefits
Benefits and Risks of Dimple Surgery
| Potential benefits | Potential risks and limitations |
|---|---|
| Creates a customizable cheek or chin feature | Swelling, bruising, tenderness, or temporary discomfort |
| Usually performed as a short outpatient cosmetic treatment | Infection, bleeding, or delayed healing |
| May create a dimple visible with certain facial expressions | Asymmetry or a dimple that is too deep, too shallow, misplaced, or fades |
| Can be planned around the patient’s facial anatomy and preferences | Persistent indentation, an unwanted appearance, or need for revision |
| May provide a lasting cosmetic change | Rare injury to a facial nerve branch or salivary duct is possible |
Discuss before deciding
Set realistic expectations
Results cannot be guaranteed, and facial symmetry may be imperfect even when the procedure is carefully planned. Before dimple surgery, ask the operating surgeon about reversibility, permanence, fading, and options for revision if the result is unsatisfactory.
Recovery
Recovery After Dimple Surgery
Early recovery commonly includes cheek swelling, bruising, tenderness, and tightness around the treated area. The dimple may initially look deeper or more pronounced than intended and may be visible even when the face is at rest. As healing progresses, swelling usually settles and the appearance can soften, but the pace differs from person to person.
- Maintain oral hygiene and use prescribed rinses or medicines exactly as directed
- Choose soft foods and follow any instructions about chewing while the inside-mouth incision heals
- Avoid pressure or rubbing on the cheeks unless the surgeon gives different instructions
- Limit strenuous activity for the period recommended by the surgical team
- Attend scheduled follow-up visits so healing and dimple position can be assessed
- Contact the surgeon if symptoms worsen rather than gradually improving
Before & After
Dimple Surgery Before and After
Before dimple surgery, the cheek may have no visible indentation or may show a different natural contour. After healing, the treated cheek may have a defined indentation, but its depth, position, symmetry, and visibility at rest vary among patients. The appearance may also change with smiling, facial movement, swelling, and ongoing scar maturation.
Review results carefully
Before-and-after photos need context
Review standardized, surgeon-provided photographs and ask whether the images show comparable lighting, facial expressions, healing stages, and patient anatomy. Photographs can help set expectations, but they cannot predict exactly how your own dimple surgery result will look.
When to Call a Doctor
When to Call a Doctor After Dimple Surgery
- Fever or feeling increasingly unwell
- Worsening pain or swelling instead of gradual improvement
- Redness that spreads around the cheek or incision area
- Pus, foul-smelling drainage, or another sign of infection
- Bleeding that does not stop with the surgeon’s advised measures
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- New facial weakness or difficulty moving part of the face
- Dehydration or separation of the wound
Get medical help
Do not wait for a routine follow-up
Follow your surgeon’s emergency instructions and seek urgent medical care for breathing difficulty, severe or uncontrolled bleeding, rapidly increasing swelling, or signs of a serious allergic reaction. Contact the surgical team promptly about other concerning changes so they can advise you.
