Can Botox or a surgical procedure remove my long cheek dimples? (Photos)

Question

I absolutely hate the long cheek dimples that go all the way to my chin, is there anything that can be done to reduce their appearance?

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I can understand why you're frustrated if these cheek dimples are something you notice every time you look in the mirror. The good news is that there may be options to soften their appearance, but the best approach depends on what is actually causing them.

What many people call "long cheek dimples" are often not true dimples at all. They can be related to facial anatomy, attachments between the skin and underlying muscles, volume loss in the cheeks, or folds that become more noticeable with facial movement.

Botox can sometimes help if the dimpling is caused primarily by the pull of certain facial muscles. By relaxing those muscles, the indentation may become less pronounced. However, Botox is not a universal solution, and in some cases it may provide little improvement if the dimples are due to deeper structural attachments.

Dermal fillers are another possibility. If volume loss is contributing to the indentation, strategically placed filler can sometimes soften the appearance of the groove and create a smoother contour.

Surgical options do exist, but they are generally more complex. Procedures may involve releasing fibrous attachments beneath the skin (subcision) or addressing underlying facial structures. Surgery is usually considered only when the dimples are severe and other treatments are unlikely to provide meaningful improvement.

One important point is that treatment needs to be tailored to the specific cause. Two people may have very similar-looking dimples but require completely different approaches to achieve improvement.

From your description, I would not automatically assume that Botox alone would provide the result you're hoping for. In many cases, a combination of approaches—or a treatment other than Botox altogether—produces the most natural-looking outcome.

Finally, try not to be too hard on yourself. Features that feel very noticeable to us are often far less apparent to others. That doesn't mean your concerns aren't valid, but it is worth remembering that these types of facial characteristics are often viewed much more critically by the person who has them than by anyone else.

Jeffrey H. Spiegel, MD · Answer

Pending the movement of cheek dimples and the lines formed around them, we can reduce them non-invasively with filler and/or botulinum injections. From the photos submitted, I would first try botulinum injection to the DAO muscle. All the best from Boston!

Can Botox or a surgical procedure remove my long cheek dimples? (Photos)

Answers (2)

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