Medical experts are sounding the alarm over another weird TikTok trend that involves people pinching their cheeks with a device to get dimples.
The “dimple maker” is a cherry-shaped, tweezer-like device with two small balls at the end of the wires. It is placed on both sides of the face, pushing one ball from the inside of the cheek and one from the outside.
The goal is to pinch between the inner and outer cheek to create an indentation in hopes of achieving the cute, dimpled look of dimples that some are lucky to be born with.
However, the effects of the devices are temporary and can cause permanent damage to the face.
Dr. Ari Hoschander, a New York-based board-certified plastic surgeon, told DailyMail.com that using dimples carries the “risk of skin necrosis and subsequent scarring.”
Skin necrosis, or tissue death, can occur as a result of trauma, such as prolonged pinching of your cheeks.
The “dimpler” device is placed on both sides of the face to squeeze the inner and outer cheeks
Natural dimples are usually hereditary and are caused by the irregular growth of a facial muscle during embryonic development.
In people with natural dimples, the muscle is shorter, causing the skin to pull in.
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Because dimples can accentuate a smile, they can make some people appear more youthful or friendly.
According to Allure Plastic Surgery, about a quarter of the world’s population has dimples.
The hashtag #dimplemakers has been viewed nearly 61 million times on TikTok, and Dimple products sold on Etsy sell out quickly.
A German TikToker with the username @xpreetyy has several videos documenting her “Dimple Journey” with the Dimple Maker device, which she also sells via a link on her profile.
Boston-based Dr. Samuel Lin, associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, told DailyMail.com: “Any device that compresses the skin in any way can cause chronic scarring pain and may not be permanent.”
“Ultimately, there is no long-term data on how well it works.” Any medical device not approved by the FDA may carry risks that have not been fully studied.
However, creating dimples has been around for much longer than the TikTok trend.
A woman named Isabelle Gilbert is said to have invented the device in 1936.
Health risks include a bump on the inside of the cheek or scarring on the face where damaged skin cells have died.
If constant pressure is placed on a nerve, it can die over time and cause irreversible damage.
For those who were born without dimples but desire dimples, the dimples can be achieved using a procedure called pimploplasty, in which a surgeon changes the muscle on the inside of the cheek to create a dimple.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia and the inside of the cheek is closed with dissolvable stitches.
However, there are risks and complications involved, including bleeding, facial nerve damage, infection and scarring.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
