Are Cheek Dimples Attractive? The Science and Psychology of Dimples

Cheek dimples are caused by a variation in the zygomaticus major muscle — the primary smile muscle that runs from the cheekbone to the corner of the mouth. In most people, this muscle is a single, continuous band. In people with dimples, the muscle has a bifurcation — it splits into two separate strands around a small gap. When the muscle contracts during smiling, the overlying skin is pulled inward at the point of this gap, creating the characteristic indentation.

Research by Pessa et al. (1998) confirmed this anatomy through cadaver dissection, finding the bifurcated zygomaticus major in approximately 20–30% of people — consistent with the frequency of dimples in the general population. Importantly, dimples are classified as an autosomal dominant genetic trait, meaning you need only one copy of the gene variant to develop them. Having at least one dimpled parent gives approximately a 50% chance of having dimples yourself.

Dimples are present at rest in some people and appear only during smiling in others — the distinction relates to the depth of the muscle bifurcation and the thickness of the overlying subcutaneous fat. Very deep or anatomically prominent bifurcations produce visible dimples even at rest; shallower variations produce dimples only when the muscle contracts.

The attractiveness of dimples operates through multiple distinct mechanisms. The most documented is the neotenic cue hypothesis: dimples are more common and more prominent in children and young adults than in middle-aged and older adults, because increased facial fat in youth produces more prominent indentation from the same muscle anatomy. This developmental association makes dimples subtle markers of youthfulness, and as Lorenz's baby schema research established, youthful facial features activate positive evaluation responses.

The second mechanism is expression enhancement. Dimples are exclusively visible during smiling — they are anatomically linked to the smile musculature. This means they function as an amplifier of the smile: when someone smiles and dimples appear, the indentations add visual interest and movement to the expression, making it more prominent and distinctive. A dimpled smile is harder to ignore than an equivalent undimpled one, which increases its social impact.

The third mechanism, documented in social psychology research by Zebrowitz and Montepare (2008), is the trustworthiness and warmth attribution. Faces with more neotenic features receive higher ratings on trustworthiness, warmth, and approachability — and the dimple, as a youth-associated feature, contributes to this halo effect.

Cross-cultural data on dimple attractiveness shows consistent positive ratings across widely different cultures — a relatively rare finding in cross-cultural attractiveness research, where many features show significant variation. This cross-cultural consistency suggests that the neotenic and expression-enhancement mechanisms are operating broadly rather than being culturally specific.

The appeal holds across both genders. While dimples are more frequently described as attractive in female faces in Western consumer surveys, they are also highly rated in male faces — where their counterintuitive contrast with masculine facial structure (strong jaw, defined features) creates an appealing softening effect. Several of the most cited cases of male celebrity dimples (e.g., Brad Pitt, Mario Lopez) involve faces with otherwise strong masculine proportions.

The one consistent qualification across cultures is that dimple attractiveness is specifically tied to smiling. Dimples at rest (visible without muscle contraction) are rated more neutrally than dimples that appear only during genuine smiling. This aligns with the expression-enhancement mechanism: dimples earn their attractiveness association through the smile they accompany, not independently.

The widespread desire for dimples has produced a minor cosmetic surgery category — dimpleplasty — a minor outpatient procedure that artificially creates the anatomy responsible for natural dimples. The procedure involves placing a small absorbable suture from the inside of the cheek to the undersurface of the overlying skin, creating a permanent tethering that produces an indentation during smiling.

Dimpleplasty is significantly more popular in East and Southeast Asian markets, where the procedure has been offered and refined for over a decade. The growing Western market reflects the broader trend of seeking dimples as an aesthetic feature. Results are permanent once the suture fully integrates (6–12 weeks); before permanent integration, some swelling and bruising may make the early result less predictable.

The procedure produces a dimple that appears during smiling — consistent with natural dimple anatomy. Results vary based on technique and anatomical factors; consulting before/after portfolios from high-volume practitioners is important for setting realistic expectations.