Dimples are what handsome men like Brad Pitt, Adam Levine and Bradley Cooper have in common. After flipping through many magazines, we can conclude that this body feature is considered one of the most attractive in a person.
But do not forget that not only men, but also many women are awarded dimples. You may not have even noticed, but pop star Ariana Grande, singer Cheryl Cole, actress Cameron Diaz and even the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, have them. But what are dimples anyway? Here's the truth about these body features.
Genetic abnormality
It may be hard to believe, but dimples are actually a birth defect. In an interview, Brent Moelleken, a plastic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at UCLA, explained, "Cheek dimples are a genetically transmitted abnormality of the cheek muscles."
Unlike many other genetic birth defects, such as sickle cell disease, dimples are not a cause for concern. People with dimples have what is called the zygomaticus major muscle.
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Scientific explanation
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From a scientific point of view, the appearance of dimples on the cheeks is explained by the special structure of the facial muscles. The fact is that those with small depressions in the corners of the mouth have significantly shortened facial muscles. Because of this feature, during the appearance of a smile, the skin tightens, the fat layer rises slightly, and in place of the short facial muscle, the familiar “dimple” is formed.
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It is noteworthy that dimples on the cheeks are inherited. This is primarily due to the fact that shortened facial muscles are a genetically determined feature. With age, dimples may appear or, conversely, disappear. This is also due to the structural features of the facial muscles and fat layer.
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It is noteworthy that this “defect” is so popular in society that many men and women turn to plastic surgeons for help so that the “Cupid sign” appears on their face. This operation does not last long and is not difficult. Specialists make small incisions in the corners of the mouth, remove a small amount of fat deposits and tighten the skin with surgical thread. As a result, the patient receives the coveted dimples on his cheeks. The shape of the depressions can also be adjusted - making them barely noticeable, in the form of butterfly wings or curls.
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It is also worth noting that pits can appear not only on the cheeks, but also on the chin, in the corners of the nose or eyes. The reasons for their appearance are similar.
Here's an educational story about dimples.
Dimples on the cheeks are called the “kiss of an angel” or the “mark of happiness.” Their presence makes the smile open, sincere and perky. Many of those who did not get them by nature envy their owners.
How are dimples formed?
From a medical point of view, dimples are considered a genetic defect that is passed down from generation to generation. However, they are not classified as types of disease or atavism. There is no established connection between dimples and health problems.
From a medical point of view, dimples are a genetic defect, but they are not a disease.
They are formed by the zygomaticus major muscle. It is also called the “laughing muscle.” It adjusts the position of the corners of the lips. Sometimes one of the bundles of this muscle behaves abnormally - it branches off, passes through the gap between the fibers and grows into the dermis of the cheek. When active facial expression occurs, for example, when a person smiles, this “soldered” area is pulled inward. As a result, a depression is formed. The subcutaneous fat around the dimple raises the surface of the cheek, and this in turn makes the dimple even deeper.
Dimples are especially noticeable in childhood. With age, the fat layer on the cheekbones tends to thin out, so dimples become less noticeable and sometimes disappear altogether. It happens the other way around - the dimples increase and become like wrinkles.
What types of dimples are there?
Dimples on the cheeks can be round or oblong, located on one side or on both cheeks, located symmetrically from each other or at different distances.
Is it possible to get dimples with plastic surgery?
The operation to create artificial dimples is called a dimpleectomy.
Cheek dimples can be created artificially. The operation to create them is called “dimple-ectomy” (from the English “dimple-ectomy” - “cutting out dimples”). Among plastic surgeons, this operation is considered simple. It only lasts half an hour. To perform it, you do not need general anesthesia. Sometimes an injection of lidocaine is enough to relieve pain. The rehabilitation period is reduced to zero. After the operation there is no swelling, bruising, scarring, etc.
The plastic surgeon's job is to make an incision in the intended location, remove some fat, and then sew the layers of tissue together with a few stitches. The surgeon does all this from the inside of the cheek. A scar is formed from the inside. It pulls the skin from the outside, resulting in the formation of a depression, i.e., a dimple.
Dimpleectomy involves creating dimples for life.
At first, the dimples will be noticeable constantly, that is, even in a state of calm facial expressions. When the surgical thread dissolves and the skin evens out, dimples will only appear when you smile. As a rule, the final result is formed 2 weeks after the operation. During this time, it is recommended to exclude solid foods from the diet.
Those who decide to undergo such an operation need to know that this surgical intervention has a lasting result. Dimples are made for life. It will not be possible to smooth the skin back.
What are the contraindications for dimplectomy and complications after it?
There are very few contraindications to dimpleectomy. This operation will not be allowed in case of problems with blood clotting, acute diseases and infections.
The operation is low-traumatic, there are no complications after it
The operation is low-traumatic, so there are usually no complications after it. However, there is still a risk of negative consequences. Due to a surgeon’s error or individual characteristics of scarring, the dimples may not be perfectly symmetrical in depth or relative position. However, this can be corrected slightly - making one of the holes deeper or, conversely, smoothing it out a little, but no more. In addition, it is necessary to remember that skin loses its elasticity with age. For this reason, artificial dimples become too noticeable at an older age and look like full-fledged wrinkles on the cheek.
Dimples on the cheeks make the face sweet, youthful, and original. And if this feature is not naturally present, it can be acquired through plastic surgery - dimplectomy. There are other, less traumatic ways to get the “zest”.
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They are not always inherited from parents to children
Despite the genetic abnormality, dimples are not always passed on from parents to children. According to the University of Utah's Genetic Sciences Training Center, dimples are not considered highly heritable. To understand the concept of this conclusion, you should look at the clan of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.
Garner and ex-husband Affleck both have dimples. And each of the couple's three children - Violet, Seraphina and Samuel - also have dimples. However, if the parents had a fourth and fifth child, those children would not necessarily inherit the dimples.
Dimples are not only on the face, but also on the body
Even with all the types of facial dimples a person can have, dimples are not limited to just the cheeks, chin, or even the corners of the mouth. They may actually occur in other areas of the body. Some people have two notches on their lower back. These dimples on the back, called "pits of Venus", as well as dimples on the chin, cheek and mouth, are believed to be a genetic inheritance.
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Set of exercises
You can make dimples yourself at home using a set of exercises. It must be performed at any opportunity. Among home methods, gymnastics is the most effective, without creating a visual illusion, but actually working out the cheeks. Each exercise is illustrated with a photo for greater clarity:
- Retract your cheeks as much as possible, pulling your lips forward. Hold this position for as long as possible (optimally 20-30 seconds). You can use your index fingers to press on the dimples.
- Do not change the previous position - pull in the cheeks, make the lips “bow”. Move pursed lips from side to side, creating tension and a vacuum effect in the cheek area.
- Smile broadly and forcefully, place your index fingers on the dimples, and press firmly. Hold your fingers in the indentations for 30 seconds, do 5 repetitions.
- Pull your lips forward, use your index finger and thumb to squeeze your cheeks inward. Do the exercise 4-5 times, each time holding a static position for 20-30 seconds.
The video shows in more detail a set of exercises that will help you make dimples.
If you don't have dimples on your lower back, you can make them
Modern researchers are sure that the popularity of the operation to acquire dimples in the lower back came along with social networks. Girls who see candid photos of Kendall Jenner also dream of getting this body feature in order to feel more attractive.
In 2020, plastic surgeon Amanda Wong-Powell, founder and medical director in London, offered her own procedure known as the "V-Spot" treatment. In an interview with the publication, she said: “For decades it has been known that dimples in the lower back are sexy. This is a symbol of prosperity and youth.”
The plastic surgeon's technique first involves liposuction. After fat is removed from two sections of the lower back where dimples typically occur, the area is treated. However, these fake dimples don't come cheap. At the beginning of 2020, this procedure cost more than 70 thousand rubles.
Cosmetic effects
The only way to get the coveted cavities at the corners of your mouth is to be born with them. If you are unlucky with this, and you are not yet ready for surgical intervention, you can resort to cosmetic techniques.
Decorative cosmetics will help you with this:
- pencils;
- shadows;
- proofreaders;
- powder;
- liquid eyeliner;
If you have subtle dimples, you can highlight their depth and shape using powder or eye shadow a few shades darker than your natural skin color: simply apply it where the dimples form.
You can also make a small dot in the center of the indentation with a soft brown pencil and shade it with a cotton swab.
A liquid highlighter will help highlight natural curves:
Use it to highlight the areas around the dimple. This contrast will create the effect of a clear transition from smooth skin to depression.
If you don't have dimples, you can draw them yourself:
- To begin
, smile widely to determine the place where artificial dimples will look as realistic as possible. They should be symmetrical and located 1-2 cm from the corners of the lips. - Mark them with a dark pencil and relax your facial muscles.
Around this point, draw small curves on both sides, shaped like arcs. The pencil should be a natural brown color that matches your skin as closely as possible. Avoid black eyeliner and other intense products. - Blend the lines with your fingertips or a cotton swab
to give the dimple a natural look. There should be a smooth transition from light brown to dark brown. - Smile widely again
to make sure the dimples are in place and symmetrical. Correct their shape and apply a light-colored foundation along the contour.
Please note that this method is only suitable for photo shoots and videos in which you will constantly smile. In ordinary life and in a relaxed state of muscles, you will look at least ridiculous.
Dimples are a feature of attractiveness
People all over the world adore dimples; they consider them a secret weapon in any situation. Scientists still do not understand why an external defect causes such positive emotions in others. If the love for dimples on the back can be attributed to the fact that their owner has an athletic, young body, then the cheeks are a completely different story. The plastic surgeon assumes that all love occurs at the associative level. Young children have temporary dimples that are caused by baby fat on their cheeks. Therefore, dimples are a sign of youth and freshness.
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Reasons for the popularity of dimples
People perceive dimples as one of the signs of attractiveness, and not a defect. There are several reasons for this:
- dimples give the face a touching, sincere and sweet expression, which endears those around them to their owner;
- with them it looks younger, since the feature is associated with the image of a child;
- indentations make the cheeks appear less full;
- they look organic on a man’s face;
- Many people attach importance to the opinion that those with dimples are lucky.
And therefore there are many who want to get them through surgery.
It turns out that a dimple is equal to a royal title
Regardless, dimples have been attractive for a very long time. And for perhaps almost as long, people without dimples have been looking for ways to get attractive dimples on their faces. “Any woman who has been wronged by nature in the distribution of the dimples can correct the deficiency by surgical intervention,” reads an 1896 New York Herald. At the end of the advertisement, everyone was warned that after such an operation you may be left with an unsightly scar, or you may inadvertently get an infection.
However, all these warnings did not frighten those who wished to do so. And how did it work? In the 19th century, a special design was created that included a knife with a sharp blade, a tiny scoop and a thin needle. This miracle tool first cut the skin with a knife, where according to the marks there should be holes, then they pulled out the fat with a scoop and made a kind of “blank”, and then sewed everything up with a needle. What sacrifices for the sake of beauty!
Preparing for surgery
The desired result depends not only on the professionalism of the surgeon, the equipment of the clinic with special medical equipment, but also on the correct preparation and psychological attitude of the patient.
The following rules must be followed:
- refrain from taking medications (for example, drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid, anticoagulants, hormones, vitamins E and C affect the nature of blood flow). Do not take them 2 weeks before surgery. Take medications prescribed by your doctor to correct blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar;
- quit nicotine 14 days before the procedure;
- stop drinking alcoholic beverages a week before the dimpleectomy (they promote bleeding);
- cook food with little salt;
- exclude spicy foods and caffeine (this prevents swelling after surgery);
- reduce the consumption of meat, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as vitamins;
- stop visiting the solarium;
- start a proper rest.
The evening before the dimpleectomy, have a light dinner before 18:00. After midnight, refrain from constant drinking. Cleanse the body of waste and toxins with an enema. Take mild sedatives. Have a good rest and sleep before the procedure.
On the day of surgery, stop eating and drinking. In the morning, take a hot shower, wash your hair and apply an antiseptic to the area of the procedure. Wear the most comfortable clothes, wash off your manicure and makeup, remove jewelry and discard contact lenses.
It is worth thinking in advance about the method of returning home. Ask loved ones for help for a while, as some drugs reduce concentration and the speed of metabolic reactions. Before the operation, it is important to discuss with the surgeon where the dimples will be located, what their size and depth are.
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Dimples were never forgotten
The fashion for dimples has only gained momentum over the years. In the early 90s, Isabella Gilbert from Rochester invented a special machine that promised to create dimples on the face without surgery. The approach was already more humane, but no less strange.
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The device consisted of a tight spring that contained two tiny handles on the sides. The purpose of these handles is to apply firm pressure to your cheeks to create dimples. The idea is that you have to walk around in this apparatus day and night for a while to press down the skin. The advertisement for this device was promising, but all the girls who used this “miracle” of technology noted unpleasant sensations that were impossible to ignore.
Care and consequences of incorrect puncture
Any puncture on the body is called piercing and even the usual holes in the earlobes, but the most extravagant are the holes in the face. Many young people go to the salon without thinking about the consequences and difficulties of rehabilitation.
Artificial dimples decorated with earrings require careful care and take a long time to heal - about 2-3 months. This is due to the fact that many blood vessels and nerve endings pass through the face area, and the skin itself is quite dense.
Limitations during healing:
- you cannot visit the solarium, sauna, swim in the pool or ponds;
- do not put clothes on over your head without covering the neck with your hands;
- do not wash your face with hot water;
- refuse to use any cosmetics;
- do not replace jewelry.
To make the healing process faster you need to:
- Treat the outside of the puncture with an antiseptic solution 3-4 times a day.
- Rinse your mouth every time after eating.
- Apply healing ointment several times a day as recommended by the specialist.
In the first days, lymph and ichor are released from the wounds, there is strong salivation, and the skin is slightly swollen.
In some cases, even if all recommendations are followed, consequences such as failure of jewelry to survive and the formation of scar tissue are observed. In this case, it is recommended to get rid of the products and heal the wounds. At best, there will be minor scars. In the photo, such marks look like real dimples.
Dimpleectomy is a thing
As terrible as the old invention may be, procedures for creating facial dimples still exist. Research suggests that people who were not born with dimples may choose an outpatient procedure called a dimpleectomy.
After applying anesthesia, the plastic surgeon will use a “small biopsy instrument” to remove muscle and fat where the dimples will be. A suture is then placed to “lock” the dimple in place. This is not generally considered a risky procedure, but it can be difficult to correct in the future. Additionally, the timing may not be right for cosmetically enhanced dimples.
Rehabilitation after surgery
After the intervention, there may be slight swelling on the face, but this is normal. Recovery after a dimplectomy lasts from 2 weeks to a month. During this period it is necessary:
- take antibiotics prescribed by your doctor for several days,
- you can take painkillers, as the discomfort will be present for some time,
- eat soft foods that can be easily ground by teeth for up to a week,
- after each meal, rinse your mouth with an antibacterial solution,
- Brush your teeth carefully so as not to touch the injured areas of your cheeks.
How long the healing will take depends on the scale of the changes and the body’s ability to recover. After a week, 30 days, then after 3 months, you must visit a doctor for examination.
Dimples are (mostly) permanent.
The durability of such “designer” dimples has not yet been proven, but natural dimples are eternal. And unfortunately for those who are not at all happy about this feature, surgical removal is not a realistic option. “I have had many patients ask me over the years if I could remove a dimple for them,” said Anthony Yoon, a plastic surgeon in Troy. “I tell them it’s practically impossible.” As he noted in the magazine: “Even with a facelift, the dimples on the cheeks will not disappear.”
However, dimples may disappear over time due to fat loss. And, as mentioned earlier, children may have dimples on their faces from excess fat. Once your baby grows and loses fat, the dimples will no longer exist. Children who are born with true dimples, that is, those caused by a genetic abnormality of the cheek muscles, a cleft chin from a jaw defect, or Venus dimples resulting from a short ligament, will grow up with them to be the most attractive young adults.
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Possible complications after creating dimples
The operation can cause general problems, that is, infection of the wounds, bleeding, scars on the inside of the cheeks. But since the amount of damage in the process is small, it occurs extremely rarely. Complications can also be specific:
- asymmetry of the depressions or their different depths;
- transformation into full-fledged wrinkles when other areas of the face have not yet begun to age;
- unnatural appearance of indentations, rather spoiling the face than adding originality.
To prevent this from happening, the operation should be performed by a highly qualified surgeon.
