If you’ve always loved the look of dimples, but weren’t born with the cute cheek indentations, you may be wondering if there’s a way to get them. Dimples are seen as a sign of beauty and good luck, and can give you a more youthful appearance, which is likely the reason for their rise in popularity. You may have noticed tutorials on how to get dimples blowing up your For You page on TikTok, so we’re here to set the record straight. If you want to know how to get dimples on your face, here are 6 things that will actually work.
What Are Dimples?
Dimples are little indentations in the cheek, caused by abnormalities in the cheek muscles. The muscle is shortened in people with dimples, causing the skin to become tucked in. Dimples are especially noticeable when those who have them smile. Some people have dimples in both cheeks, while others have them in just one cheek. They’re typically inherited and tend to run in families, however, little research has been done exploring the genetics of dimples. In some cultures, dimples are seen as a sign of beauty, good luck, and fortune, which has led to an increased interest in creating dimples on the face.
Can You Actually “Give” Yourself Dimples?
Unless you go the surgical route, you can’t actually give yourself permanent dimples. There are certain things that you can try, like a dimple maker and facial exercises, that may leave impressions on your cheeks overtime, but they typically don’t last forever. Consistently performing these techniques can leave you with temporary indents that may make it look like you have dimples. Another option is using makeup to give the illusion of dimples on your cheeks, but again, this is temporary. The only way to truly and permanently give yourself dimples is with surgery, which we discuss below.
How to Get Dimples on Your Face
1. Try a Dimple Maker
Dimple makers have been making the rounds on TikTok. A dimple maker is a cherry-shaped device with a curved wire that has two marble-like balls on each end. Once you open the device, you slip it onto your cheek and the balls clamp the inner and outer sides together, which can help give you pseudo-dimples. Overtime, the device may leave impressions on the muscles and fat pads in your cheeks.
Keep in mind, you should be careful with any type of remedies, especially ones that have to do with the face. Plus, there are still risks. Dimple makers that are too tight or worn for too long can restrict blood flow to the area, leading to the death of fat tissue. As a result, a hard lump could develop in your cheek, but it likely wouldn’t be noticeable from the outside. It could also cause nerve damage, although this is unlikely.
2. Trying the Viral Fake Dimple Makeup Trend | Be Beautiful
In this tutorial, you’ll see how you can create fake dimples on your cheeks using makeup contouring. As you’ll see, she uses a darker liquid concealer shade, as well as a lighter concealer that matches her skin tone. She then uses a beauty blender to gently blend in the two shades to create the dimpled look. This is a great option if you want something temporary that gives the illusion of dimples!
3. How to Get Dimples | Aesthetic Lumina
The verdict is still out on whether facial exercises can actually create dimples, but they can at least create a temporary effect. Since the skin is connected to the muscles in the face, it’s thought that facial exercises can strengthen, tighten, and firm the muscles to create the dimpled effect. In this video, she shows you three exercises you can do to help you get the look of dimples. Try them out yourself!
4. How to Get Dimples Naturally | Jadyn Cross
Here’s another tutorial with three more facial exercises/massages you can do to stimulate muscle memory and create the effect of dimples. These facial exercises work especially well for people who already have small dimples and want to make them more noticeable.
5. Cheek Piercings
Another option is to get cheek piercings. They help you emulate the look of dimples, or if you have small dimples, they can make them look more defined. Over time, these piercings create skin divots that look like dimples once the piercing has healed and the jewelry is removed. So you can either keep the jewelry in place, or remove it to get the scar.
Dimple piercings are risky because of their location. It’s a longer healing time and the proximity to the parotid duct makes it difficult to pierce. The parotid duct is responsible for draining saliva in the mouth, and if damaged, can lead to dehydration, difficulty chewing and swallowing, risk of cavities, and possible infection. The healing process is also extensive- it can take months to over a year to heal and often leaves a scar. The first 12 weeks require considerable aftercare to ensure it doesn’t get infected.
6. Dimpleplasty
Dimpleplasty is a surgical procedure where muscle is removed from inside the cheeks to create dimples. As with any type of facial surgery, it’s important to find a reputable plastic surgeon who has experience with this type of procedure. The dimpleplasty consists of the surgeon using a small biopsy tool to make a hole in your skin and manually create a dimple. A small amount of muscle and fat is removed during the process.
This can pose risks, such as permanent nerve damage, swelling, infection and scarring. It’s also difficult to reverse the effects of this type of surgery if you don’t like the results. Although it’s a relatively simple surgery, you should still give it thoughtful consideration before going this route.
If you’re hoping to create dimples on your cheeks, give some thought to the best technique for you.
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