Chin Dimple Surgery: Recovery, Results and Risks

A chin dimple procedure, sometimes called chin dimpleplasty, is a cosmetic surgery that creates or enhances a central indentation in the chin. It is usually an outpatient procedure, but results, healing time and suitability vary with facial anatomy, skin quality and surgical technique.

What Is a Chin Dimple Procedure?

A chin dimple is a small indentation, usually in the middle of the chin. Some people are born with one because of natural differences in the way the chin muscles, skin and underlying bone develop. Others choose a cosmetic procedure to create a more defined central cleft or dimple.

Chin dimple surgery is often described as dimpleplasty, although the term can also be used for procedures that create cheek dimples. The aim is to form a controlled connection between the skin and deeper soft tissue so the skin pulls inward in a natural-looking way. It is an elective procedure, meaning it is performed for appearance rather than medical need.

The appropriate technique depends on whether a person has a natural dimple they want refined, a smooth chin, a prominent chin crease, or concerns about chin size and shape. A plastic surgeon assesses the entire lower face rather than planning the dimple in isolation, because the chin, lips, jawline and neck all influence the visible result.

Who May Consider Chin Dimple Surgery?

Adults in good general health who want a permanent or long-lasting chin indentation may consider this procedure. A suitable candidate should have realistic expectations and understand that a surgically made dimple may not look identical to a naturally occurring one. Facial healing patterns and the thickness of the soft tissue can affect the eventual depth and definition.

During consultation, the surgeon reviews facial proportions, skin elasticity, chin projection, dental bite, prior facial procedures and any history of poor wound healing or excessive scarring. Photographs and a physical examination help identify the safest position, width and depth for an indentation that fits the individual face.

People who smoke or use nicotine products may be advised to stop before and after surgery because nicotine can impair blood flow and healing. Those with uncontrolled diabetes, active skin or dental infections, bleeding disorders, or conditions that affect wound healing may need treatment or medical clearance before elective surgery is considered.

A person seeking a substantially stronger chin profile may benefit from discussing alternatives such as chin implant surgery or non-surgical contouring. These options address projection, while a dimple procedure primarily changes the surface contour.

How the Procedure Is Performed

Chin dimple creation is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia, sometimes with sedation depending on the technique and the patient’s needs. The procedure commonly takes less than an hour, although preparation and post-procedure observation add time to the visit.

In many techniques, the surgeon makes a small incision inside the lower lip, which avoids a visible external scar. Through this incision, a limited amount of soft tissue may be adjusted and a dissolvable stitch placed to attach the underside of the skin to deeper tissue. This controlled tethering creates the central indentation. In selected cases, an incision beneath the chin may be used, particularly when other chin contouring procedures are planned.

The surgeon aims for a shape that remains balanced when the face is relaxed and when the person speaks or smiles. An intentional early overcorrection may sometimes be used because swelling and tissue relaxation can make the indentation appear less deep over time. The exact approach should be individualized after discussion of the desired look and anatomy.

If chin fullness, a soft jawline or neck fat affects the overall contour, the surgeon may discuss whether liposuction is appropriate as a separate or combined procedure. Combining procedures can change recovery planning and should only be considered after a careful safety assessment.

Recovery After a Chin Dimple Procedure

Most people return home on the day of surgery. Mild to moderate swelling, tenderness, tightness and bruising around the chin are expected during the early recovery period. The dimple can initially look deeper, sharper or slightly uneven because of swelling and the healing position of the tissues.

If the incision is inside the mouth, the surgeon may recommend gentle oral hygiene measures and temporarily avoiding foods that are hard, crunchy, spicy or difficult to chew. Soft foods may be more comfortable at first. Patients should follow the specific instructions they receive about brushing, rinsing, activity, sleeping position and follow-up visits.

Strenuous exercise, contact sports and activities that could strike or strain the chin are generally postponed until the surgeon confirms healing is progressing well. Swelling commonly improves over the first several weeks, but subtle tissue changes can continue for months. Follow-up appointments allow the surgical team to check the incision, assess symmetry and answer questions.

People should not press, massage or try to reshape the chin unless their surgeon specifically recommends it. Taking prescribed or recommended pain relief as directed, avoiding nicotine, maintaining good hydration and attending follow-up visits can support uncomplicated recovery.

Results, Longevity and Possible Risks

A chin dimple usually becomes easier to assess after the early swelling settles. Final definition may take several months, as scar tissue matures and the skin adapts to its new attachment. Results are intended to be lasting, but the depth and visibility can change over time with aging, weight changes, skin laxity and the natural healing response.

As with any surgery, chin dimpleplasty involves potential risks. These include bleeding, infection, prolonged swelling, pain, temporary or persistent numbness, wound healing problems, visible scarring when an external incision is used, asymmetry and dissatisfaction with the shape or depth of the dimple. In some cases, the indentation may soften more than desired or appear more pronounced than expected.

Revision surgery may be possible in selected situations, but it can be more complex than the original procedure because of scar tissue. For this reason, a careful consultation and a conservative, anatomy-based plan are important. No surgeon can guarantee a particular cosmetic result.

Choosing a board-qualified plastic surgeon or an appropriately trained facial plastic surgeon helps ensure that the procedure, anesthesia plan and aftercare are considered in the context of overall health and facial anatomy. Before surgery, patients should disclose medications, supplements, allergies, previous procedures and any history of healing concerns.

Supporting Healing and Caring for the Chin

Aftercare is tailored to the incision location and any additional procedures. In general, the skin should be kept clean according to the care plan, and the mouth should be kept clean if an intraoral incision was used. A surgeon may advise avoiding makeup, shaving over an external incision, or using certain skin products until the wound has closed.

Sun protection is helpful for any external scar. Once the incision is fully healed, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen can reduce the chance of scar darkening. It is also sensible to avoid new cosmetic treatments, such as chemical peels, facial lasers or injectable treatments near the chin, until the treating surgeon says they are safe.

A stable weight, balanced nutrition and avoiding tobacco support general healing and skin health. However, no cream, exercise or home technique can reliably create a true structural chin dimple. Individuals considering cosmetic changes should avoid unregulated injections or at-home methods, which can cause infection, scarring and uneven contour.

For international patients, Acıbadem Health Point’s multidisciplinary specialists and JCI-accredited hospitals can assess and treat cosmetic chin concerns with individualized planning and follow-up arrangements.

When to Seek Medical Care

Urgent medical advice is needed after a procedure if there is rapidly increasing swelling, severe or worsening pain, persistent bleeding, fever, spreading redness, pus-like drainage, trouble breathing or swallowing, or signs of an allergic reaction. These symptoms do not always indicate a serious complication, but they should be assessed promptly.

Patients should also contact their surgical team if numbness is worsening rather than improving, the wound opens, there is a new hard lump, or there are concerns about marked asymmetry after the initial swelling period. A scheduled review is the safest place to discuss whether the dimple is healing as expected.

For someone who has not had surgery, a new chin lump, skin ulcer, unexplained persistent pain, or a rapidly changing facial contour should be evaluated by a doctor. While most chin dimples are harmless normal features, new changes deserve professional assessment rather than self-treatment.

Frequently asked questions