Dimple surgery recovery: swelling, eating and when it settles
Updated: 13 hours ago
Medical editor: Dr. Semih Yıldız, plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon (FEBOPRAS) · Last updated: October 2026
Recovery from dimple surgery is quick, but the dimple itself takes longer to settle. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia, you go back to your hotel the same day and most people return to desk work after 1–2 days. At first the dimple is visible even when your face is relaxed; it softens over weeks 2–4 and settles over 1–3 months into a dimple that shows mainly when you smile.
Swelling is usually mild, so the main tasks of the first days are soft food and a clean mouth. The usual plan for dimple surgery in Istanbul includes about 2–3 days in the city, with a check-up before the flight home.
Why the dimple shows when you are not smiling
In the first weeks the dimple is visible at rest, sometimes quite clearly, and mild swelling around it can make it look sharper. This is intended. The stitch keeps the skin drawn inwards while scar tissue builds the lasting connection, and the visible dent is simply what that stage looks like from the outside.
If you have two dimples, one may look deeper or slightly different from the other during this phase, because swelling and tension are rarely identical on both sides. The comparison that counts is made once both have settled, not in the first fortnight.
The day of the procedure and the first hours
On the day itself you first meet Dr. Semih Yıldız in person; the dimple points are then marked on your cheeks and the procedure follows under local anaesthesia. You stay awake throughout and can leave shortly after the 30–45 minutes it usually takes.
The cheek remains numb for a few hours. Until the feeling is back, skip hot drinks and food that needs chewing, otherwise you may scald or bite the inside of your cheek without noticing. As the numbness fades, a tight, pulling sensation develops at the dimple point; it comes from the stitch holding muscle and skin together. Discomfort is usually mild, and the pain relief you are given is generally enough.
Eating while the inside of the cheek heals
For the first 2–3 days, choose soft food at a comfortable temperature that needs little chewing: yoghurt, purées, soft omelettes, risotto or flaked fish all work well. Small bites and slow chewing keep the movement of the cheek to a minimum.
As the tightness eases, you can move back towards your usual meals. While the incision is still healing, leave out:
very hard or crunchy food, such as nuts, crisps and crusty bread
large bites that make you open wide or stretch your cheeks
very spicy or acidic food, which stings on a fresh incision
chewing gum, which keeps the cheek working for long periods
Looking after the stitch inside your cheek
Both the incision stitches and the stitch that shapes the dimple are dissolvable, so no removal appointment is needed. With your tongue you may feel a small knot on the inside of the cheek. Leave it alone as far as you can: pushing it or pulling your cheek outwards to look at it creates tension exactly where the connection is forming.
Keep the inside of the mouth clean by rinsing after you eat, with water or the mouthwash you were given, and brush gently with a soft toothbrush. Do not press or massage the dimple from the outside unless your surgeon advises it. Smoking slows healing inside the mouth and can weaken the new connection, so stay off cigarettes and other nicotine products for at least 4 weeks after the procedure.
Back to work and flying home
Most people are back at desk work after 1–2 days. A check-up takes place around day 2–3, and most patients are then cleared to fly home. Talking and everyday expressions are part of normal life; what to avoid at first is deliberately stretching the cheeks or pulling on them.
Light walking is fine from the start. Strenuous exercise, and contact sports where a knock to the face is possible, should wait until your surgeon is happy with healing. Back home, check-ins by photo and video call continue, which is useful because the dimple keeps changing for weeks after you leave.
Recovery timeline at a glance
Procedure day: about 30–45 minutes under local anaesthesia, then back to your hotel.
Days 1–3: mild swelling and tightness, a dimple visible at rest and soft food; most people work at a desk again after 1–2 days.
Around day 2–3: check-up, after which most patients can fly home.
Weeks 2–4: the dimple softens and becomes less visible at rest.
Months 1–3: the final result, with a dimple that appears mainly when you smile.
When to contact the team
Bleeding into the cheek and infection are possible complications of dimple surgery, and like most problems inside the mouth they are easier to treat when they are caught early. Get in touch straight away if you notice:
swelling that grows quickly and feels tight, or bruising that spreads, in the first 24–48 hours
swelling or pain that increases after the first few days instead of easing
redness, warmth or tenderness on the outside of the cheek over the dimple
fever, a bad taste, discharge or a growing lump inside the cheek
a lump or discharge inside the cheek that appears or keeps coming back weeks after the procedure, even once you are home
a dimple that suddenly flattens in the first days, which can mean the stitch has loosened
If bleeding inside your mouth does not stop, or swelling spreads quickly and makes breathing or swallowing difficult, do not wait for a reply: call 112 in Turkey or your local emergency number, then let the team know. This is rare after dimple surgery, but it is not something to wait out.
Preparation, the steps of the procedure and its risks are set out in full on our dimpleplasty page.
Frequently asked questions
Will smiling feel different after dimple surgery?
For a while, yes. In the first days you may feel a tight, pulling sensation at the dimple point when you smile or talk, because the stitch is holding skin and muscle together. It eases as the swelling settles and the stitch dissolves. Over 1–3 months the dimple settles and then appears mainly when you smile.
Will people notice that I have had dimple surgery?
There is no incision on the face, as the procedure is done from inside the cheek. In the first weeks, however, the dimples may be visible even when you are not smiling, which people close to you may notice; mild swelling can make the cheeks look slightly fuller, and a little bruising is possible. Most of this settles over weeks 2–4.
Is dimple surgery painful afterwards?
The procedure itself is done under local anaesthesia. Afterwards, discomfort is usually mild, more a soreness and tightness than real pain, and the pain relief you are given is generally enough. Pain that increases after the first few days, especially with redness, warmth or fever, is not typical and should be reported to the team.
If you would like to plan dimple surgery around your work and travel dates, photos of your face at rest and smiling are all that is needed 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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