If You've Ever Wanted Dimples, Here Is The Procedure For You
It doesn't matter who you ask, everyone wants to change something about their body. Some want a smaller nose, others want fuller lips, and then there are those who want to restructure their whole foot in a procedure known as the Cinderella Procedure (via Costhetics). What people choose to do with their bodies is their business, and if you want the perfect foot, then by all means go get that perfect foot.
Although breast augmentation was the most popular plastic surgery procedure for years, rhinoplasty — more commonly known as a nose job — took over the top spot in 2019 (via Calcium). Most people, even if they're not thinking about getting plastic surgery, have heard of those procedures. But there are other cosmetic surgeries out there that you may have never heard of. Case in point: dimpleplasty.
Yes, welcome to 2022, where you can finally get the dimples you always admired in others or wish you'd been born with.
What is dimpleplasty?
During dimpleplasty, a cosmetic surgeon actually creates dimples in someone's cheeks. Since natural dimples are the result of defective muscles in the cheek, the procedure involves removing a bit of cheek muscle and attaching the remaining muscle to the underside of the skin, leaving a permanent indentation (via Timeless Plastic Surgery).
"In order to access this muscle, the surgeon makes a small incision on the inside of the mouth," board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Samuel Lin tells Byrdie. "The incision is closed with dissolvable stitches at the end of the procedure."
Dimpleplasty is an outpatient procedure, meaning it's not a major surgery that needs to be done in a hospital. It can be done under local or general anesthesia (via Healthline). It takes roughly 30 minutes for the procedure to be completed. When the anesthesia has worn off, you can go home with a friend or family member.
What you can expect as you recover
Once you get home, ice up your face to help with swelling and take over-the-counter painkillers. Recovery takes just a matter of days, and while you will see immediate changes to your face, the full results typically appear two months later (via Verywell Health). At that point, you'll be able to look in the mirror and that life-long dream of seeing adorable dimples will finally be a reality.
While the procedure is relatively simple and complications are rare, not everyone is an ideal candidate for dimpleplasty. Heavy smokers, for example, may not heal properly from the procedure, nor will those who don't have good oral hygiene (via Aedit).
Being healthy in general is important for any surgical procedure. It's also important to sit down with a surgeon and have a consultation so you know exactly what to expect and how to prepare, and can discuss any possible risks. If you and your doctor agree that dimpleplasty is for you, then move over Ariana Grande, soon there will be a new dimple-sporting person in town.