Cheek dimples on both sides
Both dimples are marked together so they sit as symmetrically as your natural smile allows.
- Incision
- Inside the cheek
- Anaesthesia
- Local
- Procedure time
- Typically 20–30 minutes
Dimple surgery Turkey
Dimple Surgery in Turkey dimpleplasty through the mouth, local anaesthetic and a 2–3 day stay
Dimple surgery (dimpleplasty) creates cheek dimples through a tiny incision inside the mouth, so there is no skin scar. It suits healthy adults who want dimples when they smile. Plan 2–3 days in Istanbul; most people return to work within one or two days.
- 2–3 days in Istanbul
- 20–30 minutes, local anaesthetic
- No skin scar
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Editorially reviewed by the Vivid Clinic Surgical Board · Last reviewed September 2026
At a glance
What is dimpleplasty, and what to expect
Natural dimples come from a small band or split in a cheek muscle that pulls the skin inward when you smile. Dimpleplasty recreates that connection from inside the mouth. Your surgeon creates a small attachment between the cheek muscle and the underside of the skin, placed where it suits your smile.
- Procedure time
- 20–30 minFor two cheek dimples
- Stay in Istanbul
- 2–3 daysDay procedure, no hospital night
- Back to desk work
- 1–2 daysSoft food for a few days
- Dimples at rest
- Weeks 1–4Expected while healing
- Final result
- 2–3 monthsMore visible when smiling
- Results last
- Long-lastingDimples can soften over time
See all procedure details
| Procedure time | Typically 20–30 minutes for two cheek dimples |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesia | Local anaesthesia |
| Hospital stay | None (day procedure) |
| Recommended stay in Istanbul | 2–3 days |
| Back to desk work | Usually 1–2 days |
| Exercise | Light activity after a few days; strenuous exercise after about 1–2 weeks |
| Diet | Soft food for a few days |
| Stitches | Inside the mouth; dissolvable stitches do not need removal |
| Dimples at rest | Common for the first few weeks, then softening |
| Final result | Usually settles over 2–3 months |
| Results last | Designed to be long-lasting, but dimples can soften over time |
Candidacy
Who is dimple surgery right for — and who should wait?
Dimple surgery may suit you if
- You are a healthy adult who would like dimples when you smile
- You have a moderate amount of cheek tissue, where a dimple can form clearly
- You do not smoke, or are willing to pause around the procedure
- You accept that dimples look deeper and show at rest for the first weeks
It is better to wait or reconsider if
- You are under 18, or have active gum disease, mouth ulcers or a cheek skin infection
- Your cheeks are very thin (the dimple may look too deep) or very full (it may be less visible)
- You take blood thinners that cannot safely be paused, or want a result that can never change
Dimples can soften over time, and the two sides of a face are never identical. Your surgeon explains what to expect for your cheeks.
Your options
Dimple options at Vivid Clinic
The dimple point is marked with you smiling. A common reference is where a line down from the outer eye corner meets a line out from the mouth corner, then adjusted to your face.
A single cheek dimple
Some people prefer one dimple. It can look more natural if the other side already has a faint natural dimple.
- Incision
- Inside the cheek
- Anaesthesia
- Local
- Best for
- A faint natural dimple on one side
Chin dimple
A chin dimple links the chin muscle to the skin, usually through an incision inside the lower lip. Suitability depends on chin shape and proportions.
- Incision
- Usually inside the lower lip
- Same session
- Sometimes possible
- Decided at
- Consultation
Also slimming the lower cheeks? See buccal fat removal (bichectomy). Some patients plan dimples alongside rhinoplasty or injectables as part of wider facial balancing.
Step by step
How dimple surgery is done
You are awake and comfortable under local anaesthetic. All the work is done from inside the mouth, and the same steps are repeated on the other side.
Marking
Dimple point marked while you smile; you confirm in a mirror.
Anaesthetic
Cheek numbed from inside the mouth; you stay awake.
Incision
Tiny incision inside the cheek, away from the salivary duct.
Attachment
A suture joins cheek muscle to the underside of the skin.
Closure
Dissolvable stitches; repeated on the other side.
Recovery
Back to your hotel the same day with mouth-care advice.
Your Istanbul journey
Two to three days, fully coordinated
Day 1
Arrival
A VIP transfer takes you from the airport to your hotel, and your patient coordinator welcomes you. An interpreter is available.
Day 2
Consultation and procedure
A face-to-face consultation, marking and your dimple surgery, then back to your hotel the same day.
Day 3
Check-up and fit to fly
Your surgeon checks the incisions and dimple position and explains mouth care. Most patients fly home that day or the next.
Send your smile photos. Get an honest answer.
Front and both sides, relaxed and smiling, and tell us where you would like your dimples. A plastic surgeon explains whether dimple surgery suits your face. Free, no obligation.
Recovery
Dimple surgery recovery timeline
Most people return to normal routines within a day or two. Dimples look deeper and show at rest at first, then soften.
- Days 1–7Mild swelling and tenderness. Soft food, prescribed mouthwash after meals, no very hot drinks and no pressing the dimples.
- Weeks 1–4Dimples are usually visible even at rest while the new attachment heals.Expected phase
- Months 1–3Dimples gradually soften and show more when you smile than at rest; the final look is judged at around 2–3 months.
- Long termDesigned to be long-lasting, though dimples can become shallower over time.
How long dimples last
Most patients see dimples that appear when they smile and look subtle at rest once healed. Dimpleplasty is designed to be long-lasting, and many people keep their dimples for years.
Because it relies on healing tissue and the suture's hold, dimples can become shallower over time, sometimes on one side more than the other.
Two intraoral procedures
Dimple surgery vs buccal fat removal
In short: dimple surgery adds a small point of definition that appears when you smile. Buccal fat removal reduces lower-cheek fullness to change overall face shape.
| Dimple surgery | Buccal fat removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Inside the cheek | Inside the cheek |
| What it does | Links cheek muscle to the skin | Reduces the lower-cheek fat pad |
| Effect | A dimple when you smile | A slimmer lower cheek |
| Changes face shape | No | Yes |
Your surgeon explains whether combining both is sensible for your face. See our buccal fat removal page, facial aesthetics examples in our before and after gallery, and all options on our face aesthetics page.
Price and packages
What determines your dimple surgery quote
Your quote is prepared after a surgeon has reviewed your photos. Turkey is often more affordable than the UK, US or much of Europe, and the consultation is free.
Your all-inclusive package
Typically covers:
- Consultation and marking
- Procedure under local anaesthesia
- Medication and mouthwash
- Hotel accommodation
- VIP airport and clinic transfers
- Patient coordinator or interpreter
- Check-up and remote follow-up
- 24/7 post-operative support line
Your price depends on
- Number and type of dimples: one or two cheek dimples, or a chin dimple
- Combined procedures, such as buccal fat removal or rhinoplasty
- Length of your stay in Istanbul
- Hotel category
Why Vivid Clinic
Meet our medical team
Why patients choose Vivid Clinic for dimple surgery
- Plastic surgeons, with medical review by Prof. Dr. Özgür Pilancı
- Dimples placed to suit your smile, not a standard position
- All-inclusive coordination of transfers, hotel and aftercare
- A multilingual patient team from first message to follow-up
- 24/7 support line and remote follow-ups after you return home
Medical review
This page was medically reviewed by a plastic surgeon on the Vivid Clinic team.
Prof. Dr. Özgür Pilancı
Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgeon
- Plastic surgery specialist since 2006 (Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul)
- Associate professor since 2015
- Clinical fellow in Rio de Janeiro in 2016
Safety
Risks of dimple surgery and how we reduce them
Dimple surgery is a small procedure, but it is still surgery.
Possible effects
- Asymmetry, the most common concern
- Fading or loss of a dimple, sometimes on one side only
- A dimple that stays visible at rest or looks too deep
- Infection or prolonged swelling, which are uncommon
- Injury to the nearby salivary duct opening
How we reduce them
- Marking with you smiling, confirmed in a mirror
- Checking both sides during the procedure
- Incisions placed carefully away from the salivary duct
- Oral hygiene, antiseptic mouthwash and prescribed medication
- Follow-up photos, with revision or release discussed if needed
General advice is available from the NHS and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. See also our guide to side effects of plastic surgery on the face.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about dimple surgery in Turkey
How long do I need to stay in Istanbul for dimple surgery in Turkey?
Two to three days is usually enough. You arrive on day one, have your consultation and the procedure on day two, and return to your hotel the same day. Your surgeon checks the dimples on day three, and most patients fly home that day or the next. Stitches inside the mouth dissolve on their own, so you do not need to come back for removal, and later follow-ups can be done remotely.
Will dimples from dimpleplasty in Turkey show when I am not smiling?
At first, yes. For the first few weeks the new dimples are usually visible even when your face is relaxed, because the internal attachment is still tight and healing. Over the following weeks they gradually soften, and in most people they become more noticeable when smiling than at rest by around two to three months. How much they show at rest long term varies with your cheek tissue.
Can dimple surgery Turkey results fade over time?
They can. Dimpleplasty is designed to be long-lasting, and many people keep their dimples for years, but results depend on how your tissue heals around the attachment. Some dimples become shallower over time, and occasionally one side fades more than the other. If that happens, a small revision can be discussed. Your surgeon will explain the technique chosen and what to expect for your cheeks.
What if my dimples look uneven after dimple surgery in Istanbul?
Some unevenness in the first weeks is common, because swelling and healing rarely progress identically on both sides. Wait until around two to three months before judging symmetry. If a clear difference remains, your surgeon will assess it and may suggest a minor adjustment. Sending clear photos of your smile from the front during follow-up helps the team compare both sides accurately.
Dimple surgery Turkey: can I have a chin dimple as well as cheek dimples?
Possibly. A chin dimple is a separate procedure that connects the chin muscle to the skin, usually through an incision inside the lower lip, and it can sometimes be done in the same session as cheek dimples. Whether it suits you depends on chin shape and projection. Your surgeon will review your photos and discuss whether a chin dimple would look natural on your face.
When can I return to work after dimple surgery in Turkey?
Most people return to desk work within one or two days. Mild swelling and tenderness are normal in the first week, so eat soft food, rinse with the prescribed mouthwash after meals and avoid very hot drinks. Do not press or massage the dimples. Light activity is fine after a few days, and strenuous exercise usually resumes after about one to two weeks.
Where will my dimples be placed?
The dimple point is marked on your skin while you smile, and you confirm the position in a mirror before the procedure. A common reference is where a line down from the outer corner of the eye meets a line out from the corner of the mouth. The final position is adjusted to your face, smile and preferences, so the dimple looks as if you were born with it.
Free assessment
Plan your dimple surgery in Istanbul
Send photos of your face from the front and both sides, relaxed and smiling, and tell us where you would like your dimples. It is free and there is no obligation.
- 1Share your details and photosHere, or by WhatsApp on +90 545 742 3565.
- 2Medical review within 24 hoursAn honest answer on whether dimple surgery suits your face, and where your dimples could sit.
- 3Your personalised Istanbul planDates, hotel, transfers and your coordinator’s contact.
Get my free dimple surgery plan
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