Dimpleplasty - Procedure, Risks, and Precautions

Introduction

Dimples are the slight depression formed on the cheeks, chin, or corner of lips when someone smiles; they can be permanently on the face, and they can be on either or both sides of the face. Dimples are also seen on other parts of the body apart from the face, like in the elbow, back, and butt cheeks. The younger generation of girls and boys desire face dimples considering it a sign of beauty and adding contour to the face making the feature of the face more sharp and defined. Dimpleplasty can be done with a minimally invasive procedure without scarring the face skin. It is a small permanent procedure that can be completed in a few hours.

How Are Dimples Formed Naturally?

Dimples are a defect of muscle alignment that can be hereditary. The cheek's dimples are formed due to the difference in the structure of the zygomatic major muscle. This muscle covers from the cheekbones to the mouth, so when someone smiles, the muscle is contracted, and the corner of the lip is moved. In someone who has dimples, the zygomatic major muscle is split into two bundles of muscles, one bundle connected below and the other at the corner of the mouth, it is a kind of defect of muscle formation present since birth, so when that person smiles movement of the skin over muscle create a groove or depression called a dimple on the face, dimples are not muchly visible in children, but as the age advance, muscles are fully formed and make dimples more prominent. Chin dimples are formed due to improper fusing of jaw bone in the center. The muscle overlapping the bones also creates depression. Chin dimples are most commonly seen in the European population.

How Are the Dimples Created?

The health care provider will mark the deepest portion on the cheek. If not visible clearly, one may be asked to suck the cheek inside the mouth, and then the site is marked, local anesthesia is administered on the cheek, and an incision of 2-3 mm is made on the inside of the cheek, a small portion of muscle and fat is removed from the cheek, or it may also be removed with punch biopsy instrument to make a groove like structure on the cheek, the incision is then stitched with fine absorbable suture, as the area starts to heal dimple is created when you smile. It is a small procedure that can be done in a few hours, and the patient is good to go home on the same day. Sometimes dimples are also created naturally due to the fat loss or deposit over a while. In some newborns, dimples can be seen, but as they grow, dimples are not formed. This is because of the fat loss due to muscle growth.

What Are the Factors Concerned for Dimpleplasty?

A health care provider will check for the volume of the cheek or chin, desired site for the volume of muscles, and its elasticity to plan possible outcomes accordingly. This surgery cannot be performed on one who is diabetic, is on blood thinner medicines, and on one who is an excessive smoker. A health care provider may ask to check all blood vitals before the procedure, as this condition can cause complications.

What Is the Risk Associated With Dimpleplasty?

Although the procedure is considered to be safe, there are many risks associated with the surgery which may occur post-surgery; there are chances of excessive bleeding during surgery, post-surgery there can be bluish-green discoloration of the skin due to accumulation of blood leading to clot formation that may take few days to heal, there can be swelling on the face due to inflammation. In addition, due to infection, there are chances one may experience fever, chills, formation of pus at the site, redness, swelling, and pain.

Suppose the procedure is not done with care. In that case, there are chances of complications like the formation of scar, infection, facial nerve damage leading to trigeminal neuralgia or bell's palsy, numbness, or tingling sensation of the nerve. In addition, there are chances that surgery may fail, or the desired results are not visible as expected, or there can be asymmetry of the face. One must be prepared for all of these when considering the procedure.

In case the outcome of the result that was desired is not attained additional surgery may be required either to create prominently dimples or to reduce the depth of dimples in case they are too prominent.

The procedure is contraindicated in people with excessive smoking, as it can lead to swelling because of heat and sometimes the formation of pus, this procedure should be avoided in people who have dental-related infections as it can aggravate.

What Is the Precaution To Be Taken After the Procedure?

Like after any procedure health care providers will give post-operative instruction, and one must follow them diligently to prevent any complications. One may take painkillers and antibiotics if advised. Applying ice packs will help prevent redness, clotting of blood, and swelling in the area to relieve pain post-surgery. The health care provider may ask you to take a soft and liquid diet for some days to prevent excessive stretching of sutures which can lead to tearing of the skin. The recovery from the procedure may take a few days one must keep the area clean to prevent any infections. Follow-ups with health care providers are a must.

Conclusion

Dimpleplasty surgery help creates a small indentation on the face when one smile, many people feel that dimples are cute, attractive and a sign of beauty, and because of this dimpleplasty has gained so much popularity in the younger generation as they feel good about the way they look and gain confidence that will help boost their self-esteem.