Dimples are small, natural indentations on the skin that appear most often on the cheeks, chin, or lower back. Roughly 20–30% of the world's population has them, yet they come in several distinct forms — some extremely rare. Here is a complete guide to all the different types of dimples.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Cheek dimples are the most common type, appearing on one or both cheeks when smiling.
- Chin dimples (fovea mentalis) are among the rarest natural facial dimples.
- Dahlia dimples appear near the smile-line creases and are often mistaken for ordinary smile lines.
- Dimples are caused by a variation in the zygomaticus major muscle and are influenced by genetics.
- In many cultures, dimples are associated with good luck, beauty, and a cheerful character.
What are dimples?
Dimples are natural indentations in the flesh. On the face, they are caused by a variation in the zygomaticus major muscle — the muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth upward when smiling.
When this muscle splits into two separate bundles, the skin above the split gets pulled inward, creating the characteristic dip. Dimples can appear on one cheek (unilateral) or both (bilateral). They also form on the chin, the lower back, and other body parts.
1. Cheek dimples
Cheek dimples are the most recognised and common type. They sit in the middle of the cheek and become visible when a person smiles.
A 2018 study on facial dimple landmarks found that 55.6% of people with dimples had them on both cheeks. Cheek dimples come in two main forms:
- Longitudinal (vertical) — the most common form, running vertically down the cheek
- Horizontal (transverse) — running sideways, depending on how the zygomaticus major muscle splits
2. Dahlia dimples
Dahlia dimples are small indentations that appear near the creases of the cheeks when a person smiles. They gained attention through social media.
A useful way to tell them apart from smile lines: if the indentation appears on flat skin rather than inside a fold, it is likely a dahlia dimple.
3. Mouth corner dimples
Mouth corner dimples appear near the corners of the mouth. The medical term for the lower variety is fovea inferior anguli oris.
A case report on fovea inferior anguli oris described a 20-year-old woman with bilateral lower mouth-corner dimples. The report noted a hereditary pattern — her grandmother had the same dimples.
Mouth-corner dimples appear in three positions:
- Lower para-angle: below the corner of the mouth
- Para-angle: at the corner of the mouth
- Upper para-angle: above the corner of the mouth
4. Fovea buccalis dimples
Fovea buccalis dimples sit higher on the cheek, nearer the mouth corners than standard cheek dimples. They are typically deeper and more noticeable.
The word "fovea" comes from the Latin for pit or depression. These dimples are often visible even without a smile.
5. Long dimples
Long dimples are an elongated variety of cheek dimples. They run further down the cheek than standard dimples and are more prominent on people with longer, narrower face shapes like actor and retired WWE wrestler John Cena.
Research suggests that face shape influences dimple form — long, narrow faces tend to produce longer, narrower dimples.
6. Indian dimples
Indian dimples are a common term for particularly deep cheek dimples that are very prominent when smiling. They appear across all ethnicities but are widely celebrated as a beauty feature in South Asian cultures, where dimples are associated with good fortune.
7. Chin dimples (cleft chin/fovea mentalis)
A cleft chin, also called a fovea mentalis, is an indentation in the centre of the chin. Unlike cheek dimples, it is visible at rest.
A cleft chin forms during foetal development when the two halves of the lower jaw do not fully fuse. Chin dimples range from a barely-visible depression to a deep vertical groove.
8. Back dimples (dimples of Venus)
Dimples of Venus are symmetrical indentations on the lower back — one on each side of the spine, just above the tailbone. They are named after Venus, the Roman goddess celebrated for her beauty and love.
Back dimples form where the skin is attached to the pelvis by a short ligament. They are not connected to the zygomaticus muscle.
9. Double dimples
Double dimples are a rare variation in which a second set of indentations appears above or below the main pair on each cheek. They occur when the zygomaticus major muscle splits into more than two bundles.
Different types of dimples: male and female
Dimples appear in both men and women. A 2018 study found that bilateral (two-cheek) dimples were more common in women — 82.5% of bilateral cases were female.
Men more commonly display cleft chins than women. The genetics of chin dimples appear to interact differently with jaw structure in males.
Are dimples genetic?
Dimples are influenced by genetics, though the exact inheritance pattern is debated. Scientists once classified cheek dimples as a simple dominant trait. More recent research, including a study referenced by the University of Utah genetics project, describes them as an irregular dominant trait — likely controlled mainly by one gene but influenced by several others.
- Cheek dimple genes are thought to sit on chromosome 5
- Cleft chin genes are thought to sit on chromosome 16
Some dimples fade around puberty as baby fat decreases. Others last a lifetime.
FAQs
What is the rarest type of dimple?
Chin dimples (fovea mentalis) are considered among the rarest facial dimples. Lower mouth-corner dimples — the fovea inferior anguli oris type — are likely rarer still, though no reliable prevalence data currently exists for them.
Are 3 dimples rare?
Yes, three dimples are rare. A single unilateral cheek dimple is already uncommon. A third dimple — from a double set or a combination of cheek and chin dimples — is rarer still.
Are 2 dimples more rare than 1?
The evidence is mixed. A 2019 study in the Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery found that 72.88% of dimpled people had a single cheek dimple, making two dimples rarer in that sample. A separate 2018 study found the opposite result. The answer likely depends on the population studied.
What does a left dimple on a woman's face symbolise?
There is no established cultural tradition that assigns a different meaning to a left versus a right dimple. In general, cheek dimples are associated with beauty, youth, and good fortune across many cultures. Chinese culture considers cheek dimples a good luck charm.
Quick facts
- About 20–30% of the world's population has dimples, according to MedicineNet.
- Cheek dimples are caused by a split in the zygomaticus major muscle.
- Cheek dimple genes are thought to sit on chromosome 5.
- Bilateral (two-cheek) dimples are more common overall than unilateral ones.
- Dimpleplasty (dimple surgery) takes around 30–45 minutes under local anaesthesia.
Conclusion
From cheek and chin dimples to mouth corner dimples, this guide offers an in-depth look at the different types of dimples. If you want to see how these dimples appear in various expressions, this guide provides clear visuals to help you understand the types of dimples better.
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