You might have noticed that some people have dimples on their cheeks and some do not. This is because cheek dimples are formed by differences in the muscles and skin of the face. Let us understand in detail in this article what could be the reason for some of us having these dimples on our faces.
How are dimples formed on the cheeks?
Dimples are sometimes caused by changes in a facial muscle called zygomaticus major. This muscle is involved in facial expression. This helps lift the corners of your mouth when you smile.
In people without dimples, the zygomaticus major muscle usually begins at a bone in your cheek, called the zygomatic bone. It goes down and attaches to the corner of your mouth.
In people with dimples, the zygomaticus major muscle may split into two separate bundles that go to the bottom of the mouth. A bundle joins at the corner of the mouth. The second bundle attaches below the corner of the mouth and is also attached to the skin above it.
This division in the muscle may be referred to as a double or bifid zygomaticus major muscle. When you smile, the contraction of the double zygomaticus major muscle causes a dimple to form.
Why are dimples attractive?
Some people find dimples more youthful and approachable. In a National Institutes of Health study that described human facial features, having dimples makes your expression or smile more noticeable. It also provides more information about the intensity of a person's expression.
Is it rare to have dimples?
It may be common to have dimples on the cheeks, but you must have seen that only a few people have them on their cheeks. About 20-30% of the world's population may have dimples on their cheeks. This possibility was investigated in 2019 at the National Institutes of Health and found that 34 percent of people in America and only 12.3 percent of people in Europe have dimples on their cheeks.
Can you create dimples?
Do you want dimples too? In today's time, when everything is possible in science, getting dimples has also become possible. There is now a type of plastic surgery available that creates dimples on the cheeks. This is called dimpleplasty.
During dimpleplasty, a small incision is made where the dimple will be. A small amount of tissue is then carefully removed. A small suture, called a sling, is passed through the skin and muscles on either side of the area. This brings the skin and muscles together and forms the dimples.
Can dimples disappear?
In some people, the dimples last only until adolescence or puberty and later disappear after the muscles are fully developed. In this, the genetically inherited dimple does not disappear completely. However, it may become less noticeable as the person ages or undergoes weight loss.
Image Credit: Freepik, Instagram
DISCLAIMER
Your skin and body are as different as you are. We endeavour to bring you correct, safe and expert-verified information through our articles and social media handles, but still, you must consult your doctor before trying any home remedy, hack or fitness tip.
