Are surgical dimples permanent? What to expect long term
Updated: 13 hours ago
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
Yes. Surgical dimples are meant to last, although a dimple can become shallower over the years. The dissolvable stitch placed during the procedure only holds the tissues together for the first weeks. What keeps the dimple in the long run is the small scar connection that forms between the cheek muscle and the underside of the skin as you heal.
This two-stage process explains most of what you notice afterwards: why the dimple looks deep at first, why it softens and why a few dimples fade. The procedure itself is described on our page about dimple surgery in Istanbul.
How a natural dimple forms
A natural cheek dimple appears where the skin is tethered to the muscle beneath it. When you smile, the muscle contracts and pulls that point inwards, and a small hollow forms on the surface. When the muscle relaxes, the skin smooths out again.
Why some people have this tether and others do not is not fully understood. A widely cited explanation is a variation of the zygomaticus major, the main muscle that lifts the corner of the mouth when you smile, which in some people divides into two bands. Other small differences in how muscle and skin are connected may play a part as well. Natural dimples are not always constant either: in some people they become less visible as the face changes over the years.
What the surgery creates
Dimple surgery recreates this tether on purpose. Working entirely from inside the mouth under local anaesthesia, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the cheek, removes a small amount of tissue and places a dissolvable stitch that links the cheek muscle to the underside of the skin at the marked point. The procedure usually takes 30–45 minutes.
The small amount of tissue that is removed has a purpose: it lets the underside of the skin and the muscle lie directly against each other, which is exactly where the scar connection needs to form.
From then on, two stages follow each other:
The stitch stage. In the first weeks the stitch holds skin and muscle together mechanically. The dimple is visible even at rest, because the stitch keeps the point drawn inwards.
The scar stage. While the stitch holds, the body forms scar tissue between the two surfaces, and this connection is what makes the dimple last. The stitch then dissolves, and over the following months the scar connection matures and becomes softer and more flexible.
Since the stitch eventually disappears, the long-term result depends on how well this connection has formed in the meantime.
Early dimple, settled dimple
The early look is not the final one. During the first 2–3 days the dimples are visible at rest, together with mild swelling and tightness. Over weeks 2–4 they soften and become less visible when your face is relaxed, and by 1–3 months they have reached their final look, appearing mostly with a smile.
This softening is expected and is not a sign that the dimple is failing. It has two causes: the swelling around the stitch subsides, and the connection becomes less tight as the stitch dissolves and the scar tissue matures. Two situations are different and worth reporting to your surgeon: a dimple that disappears almost completely within the first days, and one that is still deeply visible at rest after several months.
What affects how long a dimple lasts
Most of the factors that decide permanence act in the first weeks, while the connection is forming:
Healing conditions: an infection inside the cheek can weaken the connection, which is why careful mouth hygiene and treating gum or tooth problems beforehand matter.
Smoking: nicotine reduces blood flow to healing tissue, so smoking and nicotine products should stop at least 4 weeks before the procedure and not restart until at least 4 weeks after it.
Strain in the first weeks: pressing, massaging or stretching the cheek before the connection has formed can loosen it.
Cheek thickness: in a fuller cheek, the same connection may produce a softer, less defined dimple.
Later changes: weight changes and the natural ageing of skin and fat can alter how deep a dimple looks over the years.
Even when healing goes well, it is realistic to expect that a dimple may become somewhat shallower with time. None of these factors can be fully controlled, so nobody can predict the exact depth a dimple will have years later. “Permanent” here means that the dimple is designed to last, not that it will keep exactly the depth it had at three months.
If a dimple fades, or you change your mind
If a dimple becomes too shallow, or the two sides differ noticeably once healing is complete, a revision can be considered. It is normally planned only after the tissues have fully settled, so that the final position and depth can be judged properly. If you notice a dimple becoming shallower, photos taken in the same light, relaxed and smiling, make it easier to compare with earlier pictures during remote follow-up.
Changing your mind is a different matter. Once the scar connection has formed, a dimple does not simply disappear, and undoing it is not a routine step. Dr. Semih Yıldız plans each dimple around your face and the way you smile, but the decision itself, including whether you want one dimple or two, should be one you are comfortable living with for many years.
If you are still weighing it up, our dimple surgery page covers preparation, recovery milestones and the possible risks, including asymmetry and dimples that fade.
Frequently asked questions
Does the stitch inside the cheek need to be removed?
No. The stitch that shapes the dimple and the stitches that close the incision are dissolvable, so they disappear on their own and no removal appointment is needed. The lasting dimple is held by the scar connection that forms between muscle and skin while the stitch is in place, not by the stitch itself.
Will a surgical dimple look like a natural one?
Once it has settled, the aim is a dimple that behaves like a natural one: it appears when you smile and is barely visible at rest. In the first weeks it looks deeper and shows at rest too. Size and depth vary from person to person, so the settled result can differ slightly from a natural dimple.
Can a faint natural dimple be made deeper and permanent?
Yes, deepening a faint natural dimple is one of the reasons people choose the procedure. The same principle applies: a stitch creates a connection between muscle and skin at the existing dimple point, and the scar tissue that forms keeps it in place. As with a new dimple, it may become somewhat shallower over the years.
If you would like to know how a dimple would look and last on your face, you can send relaxed and smiling front photos for a free online assessment.
This article provides general information and does not replace a medical consultation. Results vary from person to person.
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