A dimple is a small natural indentation in the skin on any part of the body, especially in the cheek or on the chin. Dimples may play a role in perceived beauty. In the Asian and Indo-ethnic cultures, dimples are perceived as signs of attractiveness and veracity. A smile can seem more authentic when coupled up with a cute pair of dimples. They have been admired as traits of genetic luck, but with the surgical "dimpleplasty" anyone can achieve this look. Dr. Mirmanesh creates dimples that are only visible with smiling. That is how dimples look naturally. The natural location for cheek dimples is at the intersection of a horizontal line extended from the corner of the mouth and a vertical line extending from the outer corner of the eye. The dimpleplasty is a simple, minimally invasive procedure that requires very little downtime and has no need for general anesthesia.
The procedure is done through a small hidden incision inside the mouth and involves forming an adhesion between the skin and cheek muscle (the buccinators). When the muscle contracts during smiling, an indentation occurs in the overlying skin. Once healed, scar tissue permanently connects the skin and underlying muscle and creates an indentation when the muscle moves, a process that mimics the mechanism of natural dimple formation.