Dimpleplasty in Islamabad with Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas creates small cheek dimples that appear when you smile, through a quick procedure done from inside the mouth.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Umbreen Munir Minhas, MBBS, FCPS (Plastic Surgery). Last updated October 2026.
Dimpleplasty, also called dimple creation surgery, links the cheek muscle to the underside of the skin at one chosen point. When you smile, the muscle pulls that point inward and forms a dimple.
Natural cheek dimples appear in about 12% to 37% of people, depending on the population studied.
Natural dimples often come from a split smile muscle, found in about a third of faces in one anatomy study. If yours is not split, a dimple can be created instead.
Some people are born with a natural dimple on one side only. Creating a matching dimple on the other cheek balances the smile in photos and in person.
Natural dimples can differ in depth or position between the two cheeks. A small procedure on one side can bring them closer to a matching pair.
The spot is marked with you smiling, usually where a line down from the outer eye meets a line out from the mouth corner. You check it in the mirror first.
A tiny core of tissue is removed from inside the cheek and a dissolving stitch links muscle to skin. This creates a lasting dimple with no outside scar.
A small central dimple in the chin uses a different method that links chin muscle to skin. It is planned separately from cheek dimples.
At first the dimple shows even when your face is relaxed. Over the following weeks it softens, until it mainly appears when you smile. Photos below are shared with patient consent.
Illustrative images. See Dr. Umbreen’s patient results in the before and after gallery.
Dr. Umbreen checks your cheek thickness and smile pattern. Very full cheeks may hide a dimple, so she explains how visible yours is likely to be.
Have any tooth or gum problems treated first. On the day, eat a light meal and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash before you arrive.
It is done under local anesthesia while you are awake and takes about 20 to 30 minutes for both cheeks. The work is all inside the mouth.
You walk out shortly afterwards and can travel home alone. The cheeks feel numb for a few hours and slightly tight for a day or two.
| Time After Surgery | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | Mild swelling and a slightly weak smile on the treated side. |
| Days 1 to 2 | Most people return to work or college. |
| Week 1 | You can eat normally and return to all activities. |
| Following weeks | The dimple at rest softens into a smile dimple. |
Eat soft food and rinse with mouthwash after meals for the first days. Tell your dentist about the procedure, as a dental clean can disturb the stitch inside the cheek.
In a larger outcome study, about 8% of patients needed a second procedure and about 3% developed an infection. Dr. Umbreen explains each risk before consent.
It does not slim full cheeks or change the shape of your smile. In very full cheeks, the dimple may be less visible than in a slimmer face.
Your fee is confirmed after consultation, once you decide on one or both cheeks. Ask for one written estimate covering the procedure and follow-up.
| Factor | How It Affects Your Fee |
|---|---|
| One or both cheeks | A single dimple costs less than a pair. |
| Chin dimple | A chin dimple is priced separately. |
| Follow-up | Check whether a review visit is included. |
Dimple surgery is often quoted per cheek, so confirm whether a price covers one dimple or two.
A dimple only looks natural if it sits in the right spot and has the right depth, which comes down to careful planning. As a female surgeon, she understands patients who want a soft, subtle smile dimple.
Some clinics create dimples with a stitch alone, without removing any tissue, which is quicker but less lasting.
| Feature | Tissue Removal Technique | Stitch-Only Technique |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | A small tissue core is taken out before stitching | A stitch pulls skin and muscle together |
| How long it lasts | Lasting scar bond holds the dimple | Tends to fade once the stitch loosens |
| Tissue removed | Yes, a tiny core | None |
| Outside scar | None | None |
In a 20-patient series, one dimple was lost only because a dentist removed the stitch, which shows how the early weeks matter.
Dr. Umbreen sees patients privately at Omer Diagnostic & Specialist Clinics (ODC), 12-A, LG Floor, CBC Plaza, G-8 Markaz, Islamabad, Monday to Friday, 3:00 to 5:00 PM.
Bring a photo of a dimple style you like, and smile naturally at the consultation so the spot can be marked.
The cheek is numbed, so you feel only pressure during the procedure. Afterwards there is mild soreness inside the mouth that simple painkillers easily control.
When tissue is removed and the area heals into a scar bond, the dimple usually lasts. A small number fade and need a short second procedure.
It can be released with a second small procedure inside the cheek, though a faint mark may remain. That is why the position is checked carefully first.
Yes. Some patients want a single dimple to match a natural one or simply prefer one side. The procedure is the same, just on one cheek.
Yes. Men often prefer a slightly lower, shallower dimple that fits a stronger jaw. The position and depth are planned to suit a masculine face and a beard line.
Only in the early weeks, while the area heals and tightens. Once healing settles, a well-placed dimple appears mainly when you smile, just like a natural one.
Patient guides on face surgery from Dr. Umbreen’s blog.
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