Dimpleplasty: Creating Natural-Looking Cheek Dimples
A quick, minor procedure that adds a soft cheek dimple which appears when you smile.
Dimpleplasty is a quick, minor procedure that creates a natural-looking cheek or chin dimple by placing a small internal stitch that gently tethers the skin to the muscle beneath.
It is done under local anaesthetic through the inside of the mouth, so there is no visible scar on the face, and it usually takes about 30 minutes. The result looks deep at first and then softens over a few weeks, so the dimple shows mainly when you smile, exactly like a natural one. Understanding that settling process is the key to being happy with the outcome.
What is dimpleplasty?
Dimples are a small, natural gap in the cheek muscle that shows as a dent when you smile. The procedure recreates that effect on purpose. Working from inside the mouth, the surgeon removes a tiny amount of tissue and passes a suture that links the underside of the skin to the deeper muscle. When you smile, the muscle pulls the skin inward at that point and forms the dimple.
Because everything happens through the inner cheek, there is no external incision and no visible scar on your face. Many people describe it as one of the simplest facial procedures available, yet it still needs an experienced hand to place the dimple in a spot that suits your smile and face shape rather than a generic template.
How the dimpleplasty procedure works
After numbing the inside of the cheek, the surgeon marks the ideal dimple point, usually where a natural dimple would sit. A small suture is passed between the cheek lining and the skin and gently tightened, creating a controlled dip. The whole process is quick and you stay awake throughout, feeling pressure rather than pain, and you can go home shortly afterwards.
At first the dimple is visible even at rest, which can look a little deep. This is normal and expected. Over two to eight weeks the tethering softens and the tissue matures, so the dimple settles into a natural crease that mainly appears when you smile. If you are refining your overall smile, it is worth exploring related options such as a lip lift or other non-surgical aesthetics in Turkey.
Who is a good candidate for dimpleplasty?
Good candidates are healthy adults who want a subtle cheek or chin dimple and understand what the procedure can realistically achieve. It suits people with enough cheek fullness for a dimple to form naturally, since very thin cheeks may give a shallower or less predictable result.
It is just as important to be honest about the limits. Reversal is possible early on but becomes harder once the tissues heal, so careful placement and realistic expectations matter more than almost anything else. If you feel unsure, a consultation helps you decide calmly before committing to a lasting change to your face.
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Recovery, results and safety
Recovery is easy for most people. You can usually return to work the same or next day, with mild swelling, tenderness or a dimple that looks deeper than expected for the first couple of weeks. Because the stitch sits inside the mouth, you will be asked to eat soft food and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash while the area heals over the first week.
Complications are uncommon but can include infection, asymmetry or a dimple that fades and needs a small revision. Choosing an experienced surgeon and following aftercare, in line with the patient guidance from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, keeps the risks low. At EsteGo Clinic in Istanbul (Mecidiyeköy, Şişli), our team brings more than 15 years of experience and has treated over 40,000 patients from 47+ countries, and we plan every dimpleplasty around your own natural smile. You can see how it fits within our wider facial aesthetics in Turkey work.
How much does dimpleplasty cost?
Because it is a short, minor procedure, the price is modest compared with larger facial surgery. In Turkey, the treatment typically ranges from about €400 to €800 for one or both cheeks. For comparison, the same procedure is often £1,000 to £1,800 in the UK and $1,500 to $2,500 in the US, which is one reason some international patients combine it with a short visit to Istanbul.
As always, price should not be the deciding factor for a lasting change to your face. It is worth reviewing related treatments across our cosmetic surgery pages and discussing your goals in person before you book, so the final result matches your whole face and genuinely looks as if it was always part of your smile.
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