Top plastic surgeons issue warning over viral surgery trend that leaves patients with facial scars

Daily Mail​

19 hours ago

A bizarre new plastic surgery procedure is dividing the internet after going viral on social media.
The 'dimpleplasty' creates artificial dimples on a patient's face through intentional scarring.
The procedure has been popular in South Korea and other parts of Asia for years, but now it's crossing over into the US.
Dimpleplasty videos are flooding social media and racking up thousands of views, with some doctors cashing in by offering the surgery at affordable prices.
Celebrities like Harry Styles, Cheryl Tweedy, Mario Lopez, and Ariana Grande have been cited as influencing the trend thanks to their flawless smiles and natural dimples.
Cosmetic nurse Alex Pike, who hosts the plastic surgery podcast The Face, told DailyMail.com that she's been inundated with questions about the procedure.
'My listeners often message me about viral surgery trends, including dimpleplasty,' she said.
'People are seeing these procedures all over social media, so it makes them curious to find out more.'
However, despite the procedure's growing popularity, some leading plastic surgeons are warning against it.
Beverly Hills-based surgeon Dr. Deepak Dugar told DailyMail.com that he 'highly recommends patients do not do dimpleplasty surgery.'
'This is a very unnatural procedure, which creates an artificial dimpling in the cheek at rest or smiling, which is not natural in comparison to a real dimple, which only shows when smiling,' he explained.
The renowned celebrity surgeon, who is known for his signature 'Scarless Nose' job and has operated on stars like Sami Sheen, said that a dimpleplasty can create unnatural results and scarring.
'We all covet natural beauty but sometimes recreation doesn't always look natural,' he said.
'Natural dimples, a cleft chin, or a mole or freckles are hard to reproduce naturally or elegantly. Procedures aiming to mimic these such as a dimpleplasty may lead to an unnatural appearance.'
Board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Yael Halaas shared a similar sentiment to Dr. Dugar, telling DailyMail.com that a dimpleplasty will indeed leave you with facial scarring.
'When dimples naturally occur, it's because of a natural anatomical variation in the muscle. Dimple surgery cannot replicate this muscle behavior so it mimics the result by creating a scarred-down spot that ends up looking like a dimple,' she explained.
'The downside is that you're creating a scar. The plus side… if you really love the look, dimple surgery can give you the indentation.'
Comments about the procedure from social media users have been largely negative, with one user writing, 'This doesn't look natural at all!'
Another commented, 'Great, now I've gotta deal with folks asking me if my dimples are natural.'
However, some doctors swear by the popular procedure and are more than happy to offer it to willing patients.
Dr. Andrew Jimerson II, who is best known as 'Dr. Curves' online, regularly performs the procedure in his Atlanta clinic for around $1300.
In one viral post, he wrote, 'The full healing process takes about 3 to 4 months. In the beginning, dimples will be visible at all times. Over the next few weeks, they'll soften and settle — and once fully healed, you'll only see them when smiling, just like natural dimples.'
According to a study by Grandview Research the global dimpleplasty market size was estimated at $302.50 million in 2022.
The research attributed the growth to advancement in the surgery, high disposable incomes, and an increase in people wanting non-invasive procedures.