Why Do Some People Have Cheek Dimples?

Dimples are small hollows that can be found on your skin. People have them on different places of the body, including the chin, lower back and most commonly the cheeks. Cheek dimples are found on the sides of the mouth. You can have a dimples on both sides of your face or just one side.

You’ve probably noticed how some people have cheek dimples and others just don’t. The reason is because cheek dimples are molded by a difference in the muscles and the skin of the face. Most people believe they are inherited genetically although it isn’t confirmed.

How cheek dimples form

Dimples can sometimes be caused by a change in facial muscles called zygomaticus major. This muscle has a lot to do with facial expressions. This muscle helps raise the corners of your mouth as you smile.

So for people without dimples, the zygomaticus major muscle begins at the top, at a bone called the zygomatic bone. So basically it runs down to the corner of your mouth.

And for people with dimples, the zygomaticus major muscle begins at the zygomatic bone running down to the corner of the mouth. The zygomaticus major divides into two separate parts of muscle on its way down to the mouth. One part connects at the corner of the mouth. The other one connects below the corner of the mouth and is also tied to the skin above it. Movement of the skin over the double zygomaticus major muscle when you smile causes the dimple to form.

Because dimples are a result of a muscular difference that happens during fetal development, they’re sometimes falsely referred to as a birth defect. However, it’s important you remember that not only are cheek dimples very common, but they also don’t have any bad health effects.

The genetics

You inherit a set of genes from your father then another from your mother. Most genes are divided into two parts known as alleles. They can be either recessive or dominant. Dominant traits tend to “dominate” over recessive traits. If both parents show dominant traits, the chances that their child will also have that same trait are very high.

What does this mean for cheek dimples?

Many say that cheek dimples are an inherited dominant trait. However, there is very little research to prove this. It is not yet known if dimples are really inherited or not.

People with cheek dimples have a tendency to have kids with cheek dimples. This advocates that it’s a genetic dominant trait. However, not every couple with dimples will have a child with dimples.

Furthermore, while some might have dimples for their entire life, in others dimples can change over time. Someone with dimples as a child could not have them as an adult. Also, a child born lacking dimples may develop them later on as they grow up.

This is because the inheritance form of cheek dimples can be random, some researchers categorize them as an irregular dominant trait. This means that cheek dimples are often, but not always, inherited as a dominant trait. Also, dimple inheritance may not be as simple as one set of alleles. Multiple genes could actually influence cheek dimples.

Are dimples considered attractive?

If you were to ask a crowd of people if they found dimples attractive, you’d probably get a lot of different answers. Some may say that dimples make people look more approachable.

Dimples are indeed connected with beauty or even good luck in some cultures. What does research say about dimples perception though? There is a study that found that men preferred women with facial traits similar to theirs. This includes their hair/eye color, cheek/chin dimples, eye shapes etc. So probably people with dimples too also prefer people with dimples.

What if you want cheek dimples?

Would you like cheek dimples even though you don’t have them? Now theres a new type of plastic surgery called dimpleplasty that is able to do that.

During dimpleplasty, a small opening is made at the place where the dimple will be. Then, a small amount of tissue is cautiously removed. A small stitch, called a sling, is passed through the skin and muscle on either side of the area. This brings the skin and muscle together and creates the dimple.

The bottom line

Cheek dimples may be the effect of a difference in the structure of one of the muscles in your face. They’re most likely a genetic trait, although the details of how they’re actually inherited still aren’t clear.

Many people might find cheek dimples to be cute or attractive. However, the scientific reasons why aren’t completely known. People who want cheek dimples can now have them through plastic surgery. If you’re considering dimpleplasty, be sure to talk to your doctor and weigh the prospective risks and benefits earlier.