Deep wrinkles of the forehead are commonly seen in an aging face. They are usually seen in the area between the eyebrows. They tend to give a serious look to the affected individual. In the beginning, these wrinkles become apparent during facial expressions. Later on, they become fixed and are constantly present. Lowering of the eyebrows can be associated with the appearance of these wrinkles.

Because of their position, these wrinkles are immediately apparent to an onlooker. The wrinkles are as a result of the contraction of underlying muscles of the forehead. The skin becomes thin with age and as a result of the contraction of the underlying muscles, the overlying tissues gets folded in like an accordion. These wrinkles can be improved by both nonsurgical and surgical techniques.

Nonsurgical treatments:

This is comprised of injections with botulinum toxin and dermal fillers. The nonsurgical procedures are preferred by many as these are performed as outpatient procedures. They do not have a downtime and patients can get back to their routines soon after the procedure.

1. Botulinum toxin injection:

Botulinum toxin acts on the junction between the nerves and muscles to prevent transmission of impulses. This causes relaxation of the forehead muscles which are responsible for wrinkles. A small needle is used to inject to treat the targeted muscles. The full effect of the injections takes approximately one week. The effect lasts for around six months. For continuing action, these injections need to be repeated once the effect wears off.

2. Filler injections:

As the name suggests they 'fill up' areas. As we age we undergo volume loss of the soft tissues. This includes the skin and deeper tissues of the face. Fillers counteract these changes by addition of volume. There are various fillers which differ based on their constituent molecule, and duration of action. The most commonly used fillers are made of hyaluronic acid. They are injected into the skin with the help of fine needles. They soften the wrinkles by making the skin firmer. Filler injections can also be used at a deeper level adjacent to the bones.

Deep and static wrinkles of the forehead usually need treatment with a combination of fillers and botulinum toxin injections.

Surgical treatment:

Unlike nonsurgical treatments, surgical therapy is more invasive. A brow lift is a technique used for surgical rejuvenation of the forehead.

Brow lift:

A brow lift is also known as a forehead lift. It addresses age-related changes such as:
1. the wrinkles of the forehead,
2. the wrinkles between the eyebrows,
3. the lowering of the eyebrows. It results in a higher resting position of the eyebrows and,
4. improves the hooding of the eyelids as a result of the lower position of the eyebrows.

A good candidate for a brow lift would be one who is in good health, has reasonable expectations about the procedure and is a non-smoker.

A brow lift is performed under general anesthesia. The incision is placed usually behind the hairline. The tissues of the forehead are elevated to a higher position and excess skin is trimmed away. Brow lift requires an overnight stay in the hospital. A drain may be placed temporarily to prevent collection at the operated site. The sutures are removed at ten days. Patients can return to work at the end of a week. Most of the swelling following brow lift abate by the end of one month. The results of the brow lift, though invasive last much longer than the office-based procedures.

Deep wrinkles of the forehead can be managed effectively both by means of simple office based procedures and a surgical brow lift. They vary in their indications, downtime, and permanency of results.

As in all injuries, burns end up as scars. The deeper burns usually give rise to problem scars. These scars can be a cause of disability and impair quality of life of the affected individual. It can lead to problems relating to self-esteem. However, it is possible to improve these scars with the help of restorative surgery. This forms one of the most rewarding specialties of plastic surgery. Restoration means an improvement of both the form and function of the affected part. 

How do burn scars lead to impairment of function?

Scars differ from the native tissue it replaces. They are less elastic and tend to contract with time. Due to this intrinsic property of contraction, scars reduce the movement of structures  associated with it. For example, scars stretching across the front (anterior surface) of the elbow can reduce the ability to straighten out the elbow. This leads to a reduction in function of the affected upper limb. In a manual laborer, this can mean the loss of ability to earn his/her livelihood.  
Scars also look and feel different compared to the unaffected (native) skin. This causes disfigurement. Deformity due to scars can make an individual shun social encounters. 

What are the indications for surgery for burn scars? 

They mainly done for two reasons: 

1. Functional: When the scar impairs the function of the affected part. Burns affecting the hand may prevent the individual from using the part. With surgical treatment, it is possible to regain useful function of the hand.

2. Cosmetic: Scars can result in deformities. It is usually possible to surgically modify them and improve their appearance. 

Who are good candidates for burn scar surgery? 

Good candidates include those who are in good health and have reasonable expectations about the corrective surgery. 

When does one undergo surgical correction of burn scars? 

Scars are living tissues which undergo change in a appearance and texture with time. This is sometimes referred to as maturation of a scar. This can around eighteen months and surgery for scars are undertaken once the scars mature. However, in certain instances when the scars are associated with severe functional problems they are corrected earlier. For example, the involvement of the eyelids with scars can result in an absence of eyelid closure. This can lead to ulceration of cornea and blindness. In such a situation scars are treated without waiting for the scars to mature.

What are the techniques used in scar surgery? 

Generally, the scars are cut and the resulting defect (gap) is covered either with neighboring tissues (local flaps) or skin grafts. The exact technique chosen depends on the deformity, treatment options and aesthetic and reconstructive goals of the patient. It is often possible to treat a deformity by more than one technique. Some of the procedures include:

Skin grafts: These involve the transfer of the outer layers of the skin to cover a wound elsewhere. The area from where the grafts are obtained heal by itself. Grafts are an attractive option since they are abundantly available. Skin grafts tend to undergo contraction in the postoperative period. Because of this use of splints and pressure garments are important during the postoperative period. 

Flaps:  They are tissues with the associated blood vessels transferred for coverage of a defect. They provide thicker tissues compared to skin grafts. Flaps closely mimic the native tissue in appearance and texture. Thus, they are  usually aesthetically superior when compared to skin grafts. Flaps do not contract like skin grafts and once the wounds heal they are easier to manage and do not require rigorous use of splints. 

Tissue expanders: These are devices which are placed surgically underneath the skin adjacent to a scarred area. During the follow-up visits, they are progressively filled with saline. The inflation of the expanders causes the overlying tissues including skin to get stretched. Once a critical volume is achieved the expanders are removed and the extra skin is used to cover the scarred area. The advantage of such a procedure is that they provide tissues which bear a close resemblance to the native (original) tissue. They are frequently used to treat scars of the scalp. The use of adjacent scalp tissue enables the scar the be replaced with hair-bearing skin.  

Serial excision: Due to the size of a scar it may not be possible to close the wound edges after removal of the scar. During serial excision, this process is done in stages when a part of the scar is removed during each step. This takes advantage of the increased laxity of the tissues as they respond to the increased tension at the operated site. The advantage of serial excision is that they help narrow a broad scar without the use of additional grafts or flaps. 


What type of anesthesia is used for burn surgery? 
Surgery for burn scars is done under local or general anesthesia. General anesthesia is used in children and in adults when the area being treated is extensive. Local anesthesia is used in adults when the area affected is small. 

What is the recovery following a burn scar surgery?
Burn scar surgery is usually performed as a short stay procedure. Patients can return home the next day. They need to come for follow-up visits for the change of dressings and suture removal. Splints are continued after the surgery till the scars mature. Pressure garments are worn once the wounds have settled. They help in reducing the swelling and discomfort at the operated site. Patients can usually return to light work one week after the procedure. 

What are the measures taken during follow-up of burn scar surgery?

In addition to the follow-up visits, patients are advised to use splints and pressure garments. Physical therapy is important for maintaining adequate range of motion and to keep the treated areas supple. 

Why are splints used? 

They help in resisting the contractile forces of a scar. During the early postoperative period, they are worn constantly. Later on, they are used during the night. 

What are the benefits of burn scar surgery? 

They help the person regain useful function of the affected part. This can mean the ability to earn and look after oneself. Burn scar surgery also improves the appearance of the affected part. They are associated with improvement in self-esteem and confidence. 

For more information on scars, visit here.

Fat grafting is a technique wherein living fat cells are transferred from one part of the body to another. The transferred cells obtain blood supply from its new location. Since they become integrated with the body they tend to be last long. This is in contrast to the injectable fillers which produce temporary results and need to be repeated at intervals for volume enhancement.  

What are the benefits of fat grafting? 

Fat grafting provides an increase in soft tissue volume. This helps in obtaining a more youthful proportion. Aging changes of face and body are associated with laxity (loose) of skin with loss of the volume of the underlying tissues. These changes are partially reversed with fat grafting. 

What are the areas which can be treated with fat grafting? 

Fat grafting techniques are used for improvement of 

1. Face: Cheeks, Forehead
2. Breasts
3. Buttocks (Brazilian butt lift)
4. Scars ( Depressed scars)

Where is the fat harvested from? 

Abdomen and thighs are the sites commonly used as donor areas for fat harvesting. This has the added benefit of improving the contours of these areas.

Who is a right candidate for fat grafting? 

This would include individuals who need volume enhancement but want to avoid the use of any artificial substances. The volume enhancement in the case of breast augmentation with fat transfer would be lesser when compared to the conventional silicone implants. 
Individuals for fat grafting should have good health and not have any serious comorbid illness. It is also important to have realistic expectations about the outcomes which can be achieved with the procedure. 

How is fat transfer performed? 

It begins with a consultation when a surgeon evaluates you to find out if you are a right candidate for the procedure. A treatment plan is made which depends on the physical features as well as the treatment expectations of the individual. Fat grafting to face may involve multiple sessions wherein small quantities are transferred to avoid over correction.

Anesthesia for the procedure is either with local or general anesthesia. This depends on the extent  and areas being treated. Fat grafting to areas in the face is done under local anesthesia. Breast and buttocks are treated under general anesthesia. Fat is harvested from the thighs and abdomen with thin cannulas. The harvested tissues are processed to increase the fraction of viable cells which would then be transferred back into the body. The processed tissue is injected back into the recipient sites with thin cannulas. 

Patients can soon return home after correction of smaller areas. More extensive grafting though performed as a short stay or day care procedure and individuals can return to work in a week. 

Recovery from fat grafting will include swelling at the treated site. This is more prominent at highly vascular sites like face. This gradually subsides with time and usually does not need any specific treatment. 

What are the possible complications of the procedure? 

The complications specific to fat grafting will include: 

1. Fat did not last long enough: This can be lessened with refinements of harvesting and processing the fat. Fat transfer does suffer from a lack of precise predictability of the take. It tends to take up better in highly vascular areas like the face. It tends to be lost more in highly mobile areas like lips. 

2. Over grafted look: This can be avoided by carrying out the procedure in small sessions and trying to avoid over correction. This complication probably results from the treating doctor trying to compensate for the possible loss of the fat cells with time. 

3. Irregular and lumpy appearance: This is seen in areas where the overlying skin is very thin. This can be minimized with grafting at deeper planes. 

What are the benefits of volume augmentation with fat grafting? 

Since we are using part of the body for volume enhancement, it tends to
 
1. Last a long time when integrated by the body (this is in contrast to the temporary fillers). 

2. Do not suffer from extrusion as can happen with foreign implants. 

Scars are common and vary from mild to severe. They are the natural result of healing of injury which can be as a result of infection, trauma, burns or other causes. When scars are severe it can lead to cosmetic and functional problems. These, in turn, can cause psychological impairment of the affected individual. Even though it is impossible to completely eliminate scars, it is possible to improve them.

The various procedures for improvement of scars range from less invasive techniques to surgical correction. Each of these procedure has certain advantages and disadvantages compared to others. So a technique that may be effective in a certain type of scar may not have a similar benefit in another. It is seldom one approach suits all. Less invasive techniques include dermabrasion, peels, and LASERS.  These are useful for mostly superficial scars. Superficial scars do not involve all the layers of skin. 

Type of scars amenable to surgical procedures
Such type of scars would include the following
1. Deep scars  
2. Contractures (scars with distortion of surrounding structures)

Deep scars involve most of the layers of skin. In some cases,  scars can draw attention due to their orientation across the natural skin creases (lines). 
Contractures occur due to the progressive contraction of scar tissue. Across mobile areas like joints, these contractures can limit the movement. For example, a burn contracture across the fingers can reduce the function of the hand. During surgical correction, these contractures are first removed and the resulting wound is covered with a graft or flap such that free movement is possible across the joints. 

Treatment options for surgical correction of scars 
The goal of plastic surgery would be an improvement in appearance and function. This is brought about by redistribution of tissues. The most commonly applied techniques include, 

Scar revision: During scar revision the scar is removed and neighboring tissues are brought together. Stretched out scars can be narrowed down with an approximation of dermis. A straight line scar can be broken down for a more pleasing outcome. In mild contractures, Z-plasty and Y-V plasty can be used for scar lengthening and functional relief. Most of these cases are carried out as outpatient procedures and patients can return home soon afterward. 

Serial excision: Sometimes it may not be possible to remove an entire scar and close the wound by approximation of the neighboring tissues. In such situations, it may be possible to remove the scar in stages. This is commonly adopted for removal of burn scars and naevi. 

Split thickness skin grafts: This is indicated when large areas need to be covered after a release of extensive contractures. Skin grafts are obtained from the top layers of skin and transferred for coverage of wounds. An advantage is the ability to cover large wounds in a single stage. The release of burn contractures and coverage with split thickness skin grafts result in a dramatic improvement of function. Skin grafts are usually obtained from lower extremity. The donor site heals by itself. 

Full thickness skin grafts: The full thickness of skin is used to cover the wounds following removal of the scar. These are cosmetically superior compared to split thickness skin grafts. Full-thickness grafts are limited by the limited availability.  The donor site can usually be managed with straight line closure. 

Flaps: Flap surgery involves recruitment of neighboring or distant tissue with its blood supply for coverage of the wounds. They have the advantage of mobilization of tissues with similar texture and appearance. 

Tissue expanders: These are inflatable devices placed under the skin and adjacent to a scar. Once the operated site heals, these expanders are gradually inflated with saline. Over a period of time, this leads to stretching of the overlying skin. Once an adequate expansion is achieved the expanders are removed and the redundant skin is used to cover the wound after removal of the scar. Tissue expanders are useful in coverage of large areas with tissues similar to the native tissue. 

Timing to undergo plastic surgery for scar improvement
It is advisable to undertake surgery once the scar has matured. This can take more than a year. During this time, the scar tends to become soft and supple. An exception to this would be cases with contractures causing significant impairment of function. For example, a scar of the neck which prevents the patient from carrying out daily activities needs early release and coverage. Patients should be in good health at the time of any elective surgery. 

Recovery following scar revision 
Most of the procedures are outpatient or short stay procedures. Depending upon the location and extent of the procedure, anesthesia can be local or general anesthesia. Patients need to follow up regularly after surgery. Use of silicone sheet, splints, and pressure garments form a part of the post-operative management. 

Benefits of undergoing surgical scar revision 
These would include, 
1. Improvement in appearance and function.
2. Improved confidence and self-esteem. 

​To learn more about scars, click here. 

 
Nose occupies a central location in the face and thus any change in the appearance of the nose becomes immediately apparent. Nose is divided into different parts known as  aesthetic subunits. This helps in a better understanding of variations in appearance of the nose and it's management. One of the aesthetic subunits is 'tip' of the nose. Tip occupies the central area of the lower part of the nose. Rhinoplasty is the surgery for improvement of the appearance of the nose and surgery for improvement in the appearance of the tip is known as 'tip-plasty'.  Tip-plasty thus forms one of the components of rhinoplasty. 

 Parts of nasal tip 
The tip of the nose is made up of skin, fatty layer and cartilages. The differences in the shape of individual parts and their inter-relationships determine the appearance of a tip. 

1. Skin is the outermost covering. The skin over the tip tends to be thicker than elsewhere in the nose. It is rich in sebum producing glands. 
2. Cartilages provide structural support to the tip. They are paired domes attached in the midline with ligaments. The size and shape of the cartilages influence the projection of tip. 
3. Fat comprises a layer found between cartilages and skin. Excess of fat leads to a loss of definition of the tip.
 
Variations in appearance of tip 
These variations of tip are commonly observed:
1.  Boxy or bulbous tip: Tip lacks definition in such individuals.
2.  Bifid tip: A vertical groove is seen in the midline. 
3. Drooping tip: The tip is displaced inferiorly. 
4. Dipping of the nasal tip during smiling.
 
Plastic surgery of the tip commonly involves the modification of the underlying cartilages and fatty layer.  This is achieved by means of 
 
1. Cartilage trimming: The excess of cartilage is removed thus weakening them. 
2. Tip suturing: Different type of sutures modify the shape of the domes of cartilages. These sutures can also help elevate the tip in relation to the septum. 
3. Cartilage grafting: Cartilage grafts are used to augment the tips. Grafts can be obtained from within the nose or from elsewhere. Depending upon the need grafts of different shapes are used. 
4. Trimming of the fatty layer: An abundance of the fatty layer may lead to a lack of definition of the nasal tip. 
5. Modification of the muscles of the upper lip is performed in cases where there is dipping of the tip during animation. 

 It would be uncommon to undertake tip-plasty alone for the improvement of aesthetics of nose. It is usually accompanied by modification to other parts of the nose. Any change brought about to one part of nose tends to have a cascading effect on its neighboring structures. Thus, any surgical plan for improvement of the tip should also take into account the effect on rest of nose as well as the face. A sense of balance and harmony is important when trying to undertake a cosmetic improvement. 
Rhinoplasty is divided into open and closed rhinoplasty depending upon the incisions. Open rhinoplasty involves placement of incisions on the under-surface of the nose. Most of the incision is hidden. This approach gives a  surgeon a good exposure of the operative field and allows direct visualization and modification of the tip structures. 

Who is a good candidate for tip-plasty?
These would include those
1.  with reasonable expectation about rhinoplasty or nose job.
2. with good health and do not have any serious co-morbid illness.
3.  do not smoke.

How does one get a tip-plasty?  
In case one is bothered about the appearance of the tip it is advisable to discuss it with a friend or partner. This can help you put things in a proper perspective. 

Preoperative consultation: You can bring along another person during a pre- operative consultation. During an interview with the doctor, you will be asked about your concerns relating to your nose and treatment expectations. You should also come prepared to disclose the history of previous treatments and other medical conditions such as allergy. This helps in making the procedure safer. After clinical examination, the surgeon will be able to suggest treatment options. These differ based on duration, downtime, and outcomes. A consultation is a good time to clarify any doubts. Further tests or investigations may be ordered. In some cases, an ENT consultation may be requested. Images are obtained either in the office or surgical facility. A second consultation may be scheduled in some cases. 

Anesthesia: Rhinoplasty can be carried out under local anesthesia with or without sedation or general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia is often recommended by the anesthetist. 

Procedure and recovery: Rhinoplasty is usually carried out as a short stay procedure. Patients can move around as soon as they are awake. Discomfort is usually well controlled with the help of pain medications. Tapes are usually attached to the nose. A drip pad may be taped below the nostrils for the first few days. Patients can usually return home after an overnight stay at the surgical facility. You should arrange for a relative or friend to drive you back to your home. Patients are advised to cleanse the suture lines with a cotton tip applicator during the first week.  
Swelling is maximal during the second post-operative day. Thereafter it gradually subsides. Sutures are usually removed during the first week. Even though most of the swelling is gone by the end of the first month the nose takes some time to settle into its final shape. Post-operative images are obtained at six months and during subsequent follow-up visits.  

Risks of tip-plasty: 
The risks include, 
1. Infection. It is uncommon due to the abundant vascularity of nasal tissues.
2. Prominent scarring: It may be seen in some individuals. Only a small part of the scar is visible on undersurface of the nose. Prominent scars usually respond to measures such as the application of silicone tapes and intralesional injections. 
3. Unfavorable results: This can sometimes happen. It is important to understand that the final shape of the nose takes nearly one year to become apparent. Revision surgery is carried out after one year.
 
Benefits of tip-plasty: 
These are, 
1. Improved balance and harmony of the nose and facial features. 
2. Better self-confidence and esteem. 

To learn more about nose job (rhinoplasty), click here. 

Split earlobe injuries are common. Even more common are the wide apertures which result from wearing heavy earrings for many years. As a result, the ornaments end up dangling instead of lying side by side with the ear lobe skin.
Split earlobes and wide openings can be repaired with a short office procedure. The site is treated with local anesthetic making the procedure painless. The edges of the opening are removed and are then approximated using fine sutures. We modify the technique which enables the local tissue to form a narrowed aperture at the same sitting. This obviates the need for a subsequent piercing of the earlobe.
It takes approximately 30 minutes to perform the repair on each side. Patients can return home soon after the procedure. Sutures are removed at 7 days. Light earrings can be worn at the end of 3 weeks.

Advantages of Pardue flap technique:
1. There is no need for a subsequent piercing.
2. The original site of the aperture is retained.
3. It is possible to start wearing earrings by the end of 3 weeks.
The procedure is safe and does not need any complicated post-operative care. We advise our patients to wear light earrings for a year after the procedure.

What are keloids?
They are prominent scars which grow beyond the boundaries of the original wound. They can follow trauma, infection, burns or any other type of injury. 

What are the symptoms of keloids?
They are commonly associated with the following,
1. Pain
2. Itching
3. Cosmetic deformity

What causes keloids?
The exact reasons are not known. It has been found to occur in all types of skin. It is less common among elderly. A tendency for keloid scarring is known to run in families. 

What are the most common sites of keloids?
These include,
1. Ear lobes
2. Chest
3. Back
4. Jawline

What are the treatment options for keloids?
Large keloids are more difficult to treat when compared to smaller ones. The treatment options include,
1. Intralesional injection of steroids: These have to be repeated at regular intervals for improvement in appearance and texture. 
2. Silicone sheet application: Silicone sheets have to be applied for prolonged periods. 
3. Pressure garment: These can be applied with the help of a custom made garment. 
4. Radiotherapy
5. Intralesional injection of 5 fluorouracil
6. Surgery 

The combination of more than one modality of treatment is advised in case of large keloids. Surgery is useful for debulking ( reducing the size ) a keloid. It has to be followed up with another modality like intralesional injections or use of pressure garment. 

What is the role of prevention?
The possibility of keloid formation following surgery should be borne in mind in persons with a tendency for keloid formation. Measures such as the use of silicone sheet and pressure garment are advised early in the post operative period. 

To learn more about other types of scars, click here.

Nose job, otherwise called rhinoplasty is the surgical alteration of the nose. Nose is a midline structure that occupies a central part of the face. Needless to say, it's appearance can be a cause of concern to some. A rhinoplasty is considered to be a demanding surgery where a difference of a few millimeters can bring about a profound change in result. Compared to cosmetic surgery elsewhere it is more difficult to obtain a predictable result with a nose. 

So, what is a good nose? 
There are many proportions which describe what is ideal. But a nose also has to fit the face. A good nose is supposed to be one that does not attract attention to itself. Rather it directs the attention of the beholder to the eyes. 

What can be achieved with a nose job? 
It can improve the function and aesthetics of a face. Here the function refers to breathing. The following can be altered,

Aesthetics:
1. Height of the bridge ( dorsum )
2. Width of the bony part ( it can be narrowed )
3. Width of the base can be narrowed ( base is what is seen when looking from below )
4. Appearance of the tip ( it can be slightly pushed up, narrowed or made more prominent )
5. Deviation of the dorsum can be corrected
6. Abnormalities of the nares and ala can be corrected ( nares are the apertures through which air enters inside nose )

Function: Certain causes of obstruction are tackled with a nose job. These include:
1. External valve collapse ( this is seen as collapse of the opening of nose )
2. Internal valve collapse
3. Septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy ( these are present inside nose and if these are present they can be addressed along with correction of external nose )

What is a revision rhinoplasty? 
This is when one rhinoplasty is done to improve upon a previous rhinoplasty. Revision surgeries are  more difficult than the primary rhinoplasty. This done when an individual is dissatisfied with his or her previous nose job.

To learn more about rhinoplasty (nose job), click here. 

Our lips vary in height and volume. Some of us would rather have them to be smaller in size. Lip reduction is a plastic surgery procedure to permanently reduce the size of lips. 

Lip reduction may be performed on the upper or lower lips or both. The amount of the reduction is based on patient expectations. Also, the size of lips has to match rest of the facial characteristics like chin and jaw line. In the absence of ideal lip dimensions, the procedure is as much an art as it is about surgical technique.

It is a simple office based procedure. It is carried out under local anesthesia. Sometimes it may be combined with sedation to make it more comfortable. After anesthetizing the lips with local anesthetic, a wedge is removed from the inner aspect of lips. The wound is closed using dissolving sutures. The patient can return home the same day after the procedure. Cold compresses and pain medications are prescribed for a few days.

It is common to have post-operative swelling of the operated site for a few days. Post-operative discomfort is easily managed with the help of pain medications. Over the subsequent days, the swelling gives way to an improved appearance of lips. In most cases the scar settles very well. In some individuals, there may be an altered sensation of lips which usually settles without any further treatment.  

A dimple is considered as cute by many. In some cultures, it is regarded a sign of good luck and prosperity. It results from a difference in the insertion of a cheek muscle into the overlying cheek skin. It can be found on one or both sides of a cheek. In case one does not have a dimple, it is possible to get one with the help of a short plastic surgery procedure. After the small surgery, the individual can soon return home.
Creating a dimple begins with a consultation when the patient and doctor together decide on the location of the dimple. Once the position has been marked the doctor anesthetizes the site by injection of a local anesthetic. An incision is placed inside the cheek and a small bit of tissue is removed between the skin and the muscle. A dissolving stitch is used to tether the dermis of the cheek to the underlying muscle. The incision inside the mouth is closed with dissolving stitches. Medications are prescribed for the discomfort which may last for a few days. Antibiotics are advised for five days.
Initially, the dimple is seen at rest. As the suture dissolves, the dimple becomes evident only during a smile. During this period scar tissue that forms between the cheek and the muscle is responsible for the dimpling. It is not possible to precisely control the depth of a dimple due to the presence of multiple factors that affect wound healing. In some cases, the dimple may be shallow and can be made deeper with the help of a revision procedure. It is difficult to undo a dimple once it has been created. This should be borne in mind before undertaking the procedure.