Dimple Creation Surgery: Can Dimples Be Made, and Do They Last?

Why are dimples so popular?

Cheek dimples are a small indentation that appears when some people smile. They are often linked with a friendly, youthful look, and “dimple surgery” turns up regularly in glow-up videos and celebrity comparisons. Natural dimples are thought to come from a small variation in a cheek muscle (the zygomaticus major) or how it attaches to the skin, which is why they often run in families.

Not having dimples is completely normal, and wanting them is a personal choice rather than something you “need”.

How is dimple creation surgery done?

Dimple creation is offered as a day-care procedure under local anaesthesia. In outline:

1. Marking. The dimple position is marked with you sitting up and smiling, usually on a line down from the outer corner of the eye and across from the corner of the mouth.
2. Numbing. Local anaesthetic is injected inside the cheek.
3. Small cut inside the mouth. A few millimetres of tissue are removed or loosened from the inner cheek at the marked spot.
4. A stitch. A dissolving stitch joins the underside of the skin to the deeper tissue, so the skin dips in when the cheek muscles move.
5. Home the same day. You go home with instructions on mouthwash and diet.

There is no cut on the outside of the face. The same route, through the inside of the cheek, is used for buccal fat removal, which is a different procedure that removes a fat pad to slim the lower cheek.

Dimple surgery at a glance

	Detail
Anaesthesia	Local
Stay	Day care, home the same day
Scar	Inside the mouth only
Early appearance	Dimple often visible at rest for some weeks
Settling	Over several weeks to a few months
Main risks	Uneven dimples, fading, infection, swelling
Repeat procedure	Sometimes needed if a dimple fades or is uneven

What is recovery like?

• First few days: swelling and tightness in the cheek, mild soreness, and sometimes a little bruising.
• Eating: soft food and careful chewing for several days; rinse with mouthwash after meals as advised.
• Avoid: smoking, very hot or spicy food for a few days, and pressing or massaging the dimple unless told to.
• Work or college: many people return within a day or two, as long as they are comfortable with some swelling.

What are the risks?

Published case series report high satisfaction overall, but problems do happen:

• Asymmetry, where two dimples differ in depth or position.
• Fading or disappearance, if the stitch loosens or the attachment does not hold.
• A dimple that is too deep or visible at rest for longer than expected.
• Infection at the small wound inside the mouth.
• Swelling, bruising and bleeding.
• Stitch reaction, rarely.
• Injury to nearby structures such as the duct that drains saliva into the cheek, which careful marking aims to avoid.

Because results vary between people, no surgeon can promise exactly how a dimple will look.

How long do created dimples last?

Results vary from person to person. In published series, most created dimples remained visible, while some became shallower over the following months or faded, and a few needed a repeat procedure. Early on, a dimple often looks deeper than it will finally be, and it may show even when your face is relaxed. As swelling settles and the tissue heals, it usually becomes softer and more noticeable when you smile. Your face will also continue to change with age and weight, which can affect how a dimple looks over the years.

Because the outcome is not fully predictable, it is worth deciding whether you would be comfortable if the dimple faded, or if you needed a second procedure.

If you form thick or raised scars easily, mention it at the consultation; read keloid vs hypertrophic scar to understand the difference. Although the cut is inside the mouth, your healing pattern still matters for planning.

Myths about dimple surgery

• “Dimple surgery leaves a scar on the face.” The cut is inside the mouth.
• “Created dimples look exactly like natural ones.” Many look natural, but depth and shape can differ.
• “It is reversible any time.” Reversal becomes less predictable once healing is complete.
• “Dimple piercings are a safe shortcut.” Cheek piercings carry risks of infection, scarring and injury to the saliva duct.

Who is a suitable candidate?

You may be suitable if you are an adult in good health with no active mouth or gum infection, you understand that the result may change over time, and you want the dimple for yourself rather than because of pressure from others or social media. People who form keloids, smoke heavily or have very thin cheeks should discuss this carefully.

When should you call a doctor after dimple surgery?

• Increasing pain, redness or swelling after the first few days.
• Fever, or pus inside the mouth.
• Bleeding that does not stop with gentle pressure.
• Sudden flattening or a very uneven look once early swelling has settled.

Is wanting a dimple worth thinking about twice?

It is fine to want a small change. If you find you are focusing on one feature for hours, comparing yourself constantly online, or feel a procedure would fix how you feel about yourself, talking to someone first can help. The Tele MANAS helpline on 14416 offers free support in India.

What should you ask at a consultation?

• Where would you place my dimple, and can I see the marking while smiling?
• One dimple or two, and which would suit my face?
• What happens if the dimple fades or looks uneven?
• How long until it settles into its final look?

Dimple creation does not have a separate page on this site; it is part of facial cosmetic surgery. For a related procedure done through the same route inside the cheek, see buccal fat removal, and read how to choose a plastic surgeon before you book.