Jenni Gilbert Miranda Kerr has a sexy signature set. Gabrielle Union has them, too, as does hot Harry Styles … dimples.
And creating them where nature didn’t bestow them is the latest trend in plastic surgery among Millennials – a procedure known as dimpleplasty, according to Dr Jack Zoumaras, owner of Sydney’s Artiste clinic.
“Natural dimples are the result of skin being attached to underlying facial muscles,” says Dr Zoumaras. “It’s the flexing of the muscle under the skin that pulls the skin, and creates them.”
To mimic the effect, dimpleplasty “is a quick, minimally invasive, in-room procedure that takes about half an hour to create dimples, most commonly within the cheeks,” says Dr Zoumaras.
“It’s become a very common request among Millennial-aged [20s and 30s] patients.
“It’s an intricate technique that requires a clear understanding of aesthetic goals between the patient and an experienced plastic surgeon.
“It takes about 30 minutes, epending on the patient’s anatomy, and involves creating an incision inside the patient’s mouth. Effectively a defect is created in the cheek muscle, known as the buccinator.
“The muscle is then attached to the undersurface of the skin so that the dimples are seen upon animation, but not when the face is relaxed.
“You are essentially creating a controlled scar, to create tethering – in other words a (semi-permanent) dimple.”
Dr Zoumaras says there is little downtime and no need for general anaesthesia.
Following dimpleplasty, initially there is mild swelling and soreness. After this the tissue will eventually settle and the dimple will only be seen when smiling.
However, he warns that there are risks involved, which could lead to complications that are difficult to correct.
“Dimples may be overly dramatic, or appear underwhelming, look unnatural, disappear with time, or even be located in the wrong place,” he warns.
Prices usually range between $1000 and $2,500, depending on the level of difficulty.
