The Science Behind Dimples

Have you ever wondered why some people have dimples and others don't?

This facial feature is considered a charm and is often associated with beauty. It even drives some individuals to acquire it through surgery. But the reality behind its attractiveness is more complex. While many see them as an additional factor to beauty, the science behind dimples is deeply rooted in biology, making them far more intriguing than they appear.

A Dimple is a skin depression that appears through facial expressions (e.g., smiling). It is an innate trait caused by the contraction of the Zygomaticus major, also known as the "laughing muscle," with its strands inserted into the dermis causing a dermal tethering effect [1, 2]. Although normally seen on the cheeks, they can also appear above and/or below the angle of the mouth. They can also differ in number, size, and shape due to various factors such as weight, age, tissue elasticity, tone, and muscle insertions [2].

Apparently, naturally acquired dimples are caused by mutation of the zygomaticus muscle. Contrary to the positive perception they bring to many, dimples are actually considered as genetic defects giving rise to a bifid zygomaticus major. This results in a cleft formation on the cheek, commonly known as dimples [3, 4].

Having dimple/s is an interesting feature and is common worldwide, but not everyone has them. They are genetically determined and highly heritable, being passed down from generation to generation [3]. They also appear either in the early or later stages of life. As a naturally occurring trait, this captures people's curiosity. Dimpleplasty, a surgical cosmetic procedure to create natural-looking indentations, is typically performed for interested individuals [2].

Dimples are unique and magnetic, making people's smiles more radiant and charming. Nonetheless, whether one has them or not, the smile itself is what makes it truly incredible and special.

Do you have dimples, or do you wish you had them?

References

Chung, JM., Park, JH., & Shim, JS. (2020). Analysis of the clinical and aesthetic results of facial dimple creation surgery. Archives of Plastic Surgery. ISSN: 2234-6171. doi: 10.5999/aps.2020.00661.
Chalathadka, M., Shankar, KK., Lakshmi, GV., Nithin, VM., Kulkarni, S., & Firdousbano, M. (2019). Evaluation of prevalence and morphology of dimple among population of Sullia Taluk. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery. ISSN: 0974-5157. doi: 10.4103/JCAS.JCAS.109.19.
Genetics Science Learning Center (n.d.). Observable human characteristics. University of Utah. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/basics/observable/
Macdonald, C., Nedrud, D., Grimes, P., Trinidad, D., Fraser, J., & Coyote-Maestas, W. (2023). Dimple: Deep insertion, deletion, and missense mutation libraries for exploring protein variation in evolution, disease, and biology. Genome Biology. 24 (1):36. doi: 10.1186/s13059-023-02880-6

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