Dimple surgery is an in-office procedure that can create the appearance of a dimple on the cheek or chin. Dimples are tiny indentations on the cheek that are visible when one smiles. They are usually hereditary traits. Suitable candidates for dimpleplasty have firm skin and sufficient volume in their cheeks.
This minimally invasive procedure is safe and has a short recovery period. Unlike other surgeries, a dimple surgery will not require thorough pre-operative tests and imaging. To locate the site where the surgeon should create the dimple, patients will have to suck in their cheeks, and the spot with maximum depression will be marked.
The procedure will take less than an hour. The practitioner will use local anesthetic to numb the cheeks first. They make a tiny incision inside the mouth that is generally 2cm wide. A small chunk of fat is removed through this incision. The cheek muscles are then sutured with the underlayer of the skin using dissolvable stitches.
This creates the dimpled indentation. Once the sutures dissolve, fibrous scar tissue forms. They fuse the muscles and dermis together to create a permanent dimple. Doctors use the same technique to create a chin dimple or a cleft chin.
This is an outpatient surgery and patients can return to work the next day. Any swelling should subside within two months. Using a cold compress is recommended. Patients should avoid strenuous activity for 1-2 weeks. The dimples are immediately noticeable, and the results are permanent. As with most surgeries, there are some risks. These can include excessive bleeding, bruising, swelling, nerve damage and infection.
