Facial aesthetic surgery · London
Dimpleplasty — a permanent cheek dimple, done properly.
A 15 to 30 minute in-clinic procedure under local anaesthetic — a small intra-oral incision, one internal suture, a permanent dimple that shows when you smile. No external scar. And an honest conversation first about whether it is the right decision at all.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A GMC or GDC-registered facial aesthetic surgeon
Dimpleplasty is minor surgery, but it is still surgery. A properly registered facial surgeon in a clean clinic, not a beautician with a sewing kit.
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BDD screening before anyone picks up a needle
Body dysmorphic disorder is a genuine reason to say no to cosmetic surgery. We screen for it, and we refuse cases we shouldn’t take.
- 03
Realistic outcome consent, in writing
A dimple that shows on smiling, may show at rest for weeks, and is very difficult to reverse. You sign only when you understand exactly that.
Indicative pricing
What a dimpleplasty costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Fully self-pay — dimpleplasty is cosmetic and is not covered by any UK medical insurer.
In short
A bilateral dimpleplasty under LA: £1,800–£2,800, home the same hour.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimpleplasty — unilateral | £1,200–£1,800 | 15–20 min LA | Same visit |
| Dimpleplasty — bilateral | £1,800–£2,800 | 25–30 min LA | Same visit |
| Dimpleplasty + chin cleft creation | £2,400–£3,600 | 45 min LA | Same visit |
| Consultation with photo mock-up | £150–£300 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Revision (softening or asymmetry) | £800–£1,600 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by surgeon, by unilateral vs bilateral, and by whether a chin cleft is done at the same visit. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A permanent decision, sold as a lunchtime treatment.
Dimpleplasty is one of the fastest-growing cosmetic procedures on social media, and one of the least-explained. It is not a filler. It is not reversible. It deserves proper consent and a proper surgeon.
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Not sure it will suit your face?
A photo mock-up first, so you can see where the dimple would sit before anyone commits to surgery.
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Worried it will look fake?
Depth and placement are set by the surgeon. Too deep looks artificial — we favour a conservative first pass.
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Worried you cannot undo it?
You cannot, reliably. We say that clearly and build in a cooling-off period before we book anything.
The journey
From consultation to healed dimple — what happens, in order.
One surgeon from the first mock-up to the healed result — with a mandatory cooling-off period in between.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Consultation, mock-up, cooling-off
Phase 2 · On the day
15–30 minutes in clinic
Phase 3 · After
Aftercare and optional revision
- 01
Before
Consultation and photo mock-up
A face-to-face consultation with photo simulations so you can see where the dimple would sit — anterior cheek, mid-cheek, unilateral or bilateral.
- 02
Before
Cooling-off period
A mandatory cooling-off of at least two weeks between consultation and surgery. Dimpleplasty is effectively permanent — this is not a same-day decision.
- 03
Before
Final consent and BDD screen
A short screening questionnaire and a second conversation. If anything flags — cultural pressure, unrealistic expectations, BDD signs — we pause.
- 04
On the day
The procedure
15 to 30 minutes under local anaesthetic in a treatment room. A small incision inside the cheek, a cylinder of tissue removed, one internal suture.
- 05
After
First two weeks
Soft food for a few days, saltwater rinses after meals, minor swelling and bruising. A dimple visible at rest, which is expected and settles.
- 06
After
2–4 week aftercare
By this point the dimple typically only shows on smiling. A review photograph is taken and compared with the pre-op mock-up.
- 07
After
Optional revision
If the dimple has softened too much, a small revision can be offered. If it is too deep, options are limited — we discuss this honestly.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from consultation to procedure. Full settle: 2–4 weeks.
When it fits
When dimpleplasty is the right choice — and when it isn’t.
Who this procedure suits, plus the red flags that mean we will decline it — even if the patient is asking for it.
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Wanting a permanent cheek dimple
A dimple that appears when smiling — the most common request, and the outcome the procedure is designed for.
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Bilateral symmetry
Both cheeks done in one sitting for balanced dimples — usually more predictable than unilateral for symmetry.
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Anterior vs mid-cheek placement
Placement is chosen with photo simulation. Anterior dimples sit closer to the mouth, mid-cheek dimples further back.
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Combined with chin cleft creation
Some patients ask for a chin cleft at the same visit. Different technique, same in-clinic session, one recovery period.
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After considering filler alternatives
Filler techniques can shape a chin cleft but do not create a reliable cheek dimple — surgery is the only durable option.
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Personal, not medically necessary
Dimpleplasty is purely cosmetic. There is no medical indication — we say so clearly during consent.
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Not for under-18s
We do not offer dimpleplasty to anyone under 18, regardless of parental support. The face is still changing.
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Red flag: BDD or cultural pressure
If body dysmorphic features are present, or the patient is being pushed by a partner or a trend, we decline and refer to psychology.
Options
Not every dimple is the same dimple.
Placement, laterality, and whether anything else is done at the same visit — the choices that shape the final result.
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Unilateral dimpleplasty
A dimple on one cheek only — often chosen to match a naturally dimpled opposite side, or as a signature asymmetric look.
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Bilateral dimpleplasty
A matched pair — technically more predictable for symmetry, and the most common request.
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Anterior cheek placement
The dimple sits closer to the corner of the mouth — a subtler, softer look on smiling.
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Mid-cheek placement
The dimple sits further back on the cheek — more visible, more classical “dimple” look, harder to hide.
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Combined with chin cleft creation
A separate technique on the chin, done in the same visit. Different anatomy, same LA session and recovery.
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Dermal filler (chin cleft only)
Fillers can shape a chin cleft but do not create a cheek dimple. Non-surgical, not permanent.
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Revision softening
A minor revision to soften a dimple that shows too much at rest — a small suture release.
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Consultation only
An honest photo-mock-up session with no obligation. Many people leave and never book. That is fine.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of facial aesthetic surgeons, we picked them.
GMC or GDC-registered facial aesthetic surgeons across central London — none of them beauticians, none of them working out of a hair salon.
Selection criteria
How we choose every surgeon in our network.
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GMC or GDC-registered facial aesthetic surgeons only — no beauticians, no aestheticians
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Written BDD screening before surgery is offered
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Mandatory two-week cooling-off between consultation and procedure
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Refusal to operate on under-18s, cultural-pressure cases, or unrealistic expectations
Safety and recovery
The honest list of what can go wrong.
Dimpleplasty is minor surgery with a good safety record — but it is permanent, and the complications worth knowing about are not the ones social media mentions.
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A permanent decision
Dimpleplasty is very difficult to reverse convincingly. The internal scar tethers the muscle to the skin — undoing that leaves a nodule or a divot. You must be certain.
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Dimple visible at rest, initially
For the first two to four weeks the dimple usually shows even when the face is relaxed. This is normal and typically settles to “smiling only”.
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Over-deep or under-deep dimple
The depth is set by the suture and by how the tissue heals. Over-deep dimples look artificial; under-deep dimples soften away with time.
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Asymmetry between the two sides
Even with careful mirroring, a bilateral dimpleplasty can heal asymmetrically. Minor revision is possible; perfect symmetry cannot be promised.
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Infection and scar granuloma
Small risk of intra-oral infection or a firm scar nodule at the suture site — saltwater rinses and antibiotics resolve most cases.
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Buccal nerve injury (rare)
Very uncommon, but a branch of the facial nerve runs in the area. Temporary numbness can occur; permanent weakness is rare.
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Body dysmorphic disorder
BDD is a mental-health diagnosis, not a cosmetic problem. If features are present we refer to psychology and decline surgery.
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No external scar
The incision is inside the mouth, so there is no visible scar on the cheek — one of the reasons the procedure is popular.
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Red flags
Spreading redness, fever, worsening pain after day three, or a hard growing lump under the skin — call the clinic the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
However subtle the procedure looks in the mirror, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Placement and laterality
Which side or sides, and where on the cheek the dimple was placed — anterior or mid-cheek.
- 02 Technique
Incision, tissue removal and suture
Intra-oral incision length, the small cylinder of buccal tissue removed, and the internal suture tethering muscle to dermis.
- 03 Findings
Nerve mapping and any variation
Notes on the position of the buccal nerve branches and any anatomical variation encountered.
- 04 Impression
Aftercare, review date, revision plan
Read this first: soft food period, rinses, when the dimple should settle to smiling only, and whether a revision is being considered.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Dimpleplasty is a purely cosmetic procedure and is not covered by any UK medical insurer — it is always self-pay.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about dimpleplasty.
Quick answers on permanence, scars, recovery, and when we would refuse to do it.
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Is a dimpleplasty permanent?
Effectively yes. The internal suture creates scar tissue between the buccinator muscle and the underside of the dermis — that tether persists long after the suture dissolves. Reversal is possible but rarely produces a convincingly natural cheek again.
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Will the dimple show all the time or only when I smile?
In the first two to four weeks it usually shows at rest too, because of swelling and the fresh internal tether. Once healed, most patients see the dimple only when smiling — which is the intended outcome.
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Is there a scar on my cheek afterwards?
No. The incision is made inside the mouth on the inner cheek, so nothing is visible externally. There is a small internal scar you can feel with your tongue for a few weeks.
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How long is the recovery?
Soft food for three to five days, saltwater rinses after meals for a week, and minor swelling or bruising for one to two weeks. Most people are back at work the next day.
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What are the alternatives to dimpleplasty?
For a chin cleft, dermal filler can shape the area non-surgically. For a cheek dimple, there is no reliable non-surgical option — filler and contouring can shade the cheek but will not create a true dimple.
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When should I not have a dimpleplasty?
If you are under 18, if you have signs of body dysmorphic disorder, if you are being pressured by a partner or a trend, or if you are not fully comfortable with a permanent change to your face — we will decline the procedure.