Many people are familiar with facial dimples, but not too many people know where dimples come from. In addition, different types of dimples exist. Here is a look at where dimples come from, how they form, and how you obtain dimples if you don’t have them naturally.
1. Dimples Aren’t Always Inherited
Some people believe dimples represent a genetic trait that can come from a progenitor in the family tree. There’s no consensus on this. Dimples do seem to show up in children when one parent or the other already has them. However, that’s not a guarantee. In addition, it’s possible for the dimple gene to remain dormant as it’s not a dominant gene.
2. Dimples Can Come and Go
Even if an individual has dimples, there’s no guarantee they will always have them. Some people have dimples at an early age, but they fade as the person grows. Some people develop dimples later.
Dimples aren’t always on display. For example, you can have dimples that only appear when you smile, while someone else may have deep dimples that always remain on their face.
3. Dimples Don’t Always Match
People with dimples usually have one on either side of their face. However, it’s possible to have only a single or unilateral dimple. The singular dimple can occur for several reasons.
Because of how dimples form, it’s possible to start with two but lose one because of physical changes on one side of the face. Some people even have more than one dimple on each cheek. For example, it’s possible to have two small dimples side by side on each cheek.
4. Dimples Come in Many Varieties
Several types of dimples exist. They can form along the sides of the mouth, above the line of the mouth, at the lower corner of the mouth, and at the upper corners of the mouth.
Dimples can also vary in how shallow or deep they are, which affects how they look when someone smiles or moves their mouth in certain ways. The shape of dimples can vary as well. Dimples can range from a vertical or crescent slash to a small pinpoint with many variations between.
5. Dimples Can Come from Cheek Piercings
One way to form dimples if you’re not born with them is to have your cheeks pierced. This is why cheek piercings are also known as dimple piercings. The piercing can give the impression of dimples or give more definition to existing dimples.
Many people get this type of piercing because the scarring left by the piercing can leave that dimple-like indent in the cheeks. For those who already have dimples, a piercing can often accentuate them nicely.
Still, not everyone wants a piercing, so this process isn’t always viable. For those who would rather not go through the piercing process, there’s another option for creating dimples.
6. Dimples Can Be Created through Dimpleplasty
For those who would like to have dimples, it’s possible through dimpleplasty. What is dimpleplasty? This type of surgery exists to create or restore facial dimples.
Dimples form when the zygomaticus major muscle in the face has a split rather than running contiguously from the cheek to the mouth. Because of the understanding of how dimples form, it’s possible to recreate the effect with dimpleplasty.
Dimples are a fascinating subject all on their own. Many people enjoy the look of dimples, and they’re generally considered an attractive asset to a face. Dimples give facial expressions an added dimension that people find pleasing. These days, it’s possible for anyone to have dimples, not just those lucky enough to have them naturally.
