Dimples they’re what stars Brad Pitt, Adam Levine, and Bradley Cooper all have in common.
Well, having dimples and earning the title ofPeople’s Sexiest Man Alive at least once in their lifetimes.
As much as you may love ogling dimpled dudes, this feature isn’t just a guy thing.
Women including some of your favorite female celebs also have the adorable depressions.
But what evenaredimples anyway?
Here’s the truth about these incredibly unique indentations.
The gelasin joyous
You don’t have to have dimples to know what they are.
Yet and still, even those with dimples would probably be confused if someone complimented their “gelasin.”
Aswordsmith.orgrevealed, gelasin is actually just another term for dimples.
It comes from the Greek word “gelaein” which means “to laugh.”
By the 21st century, however, “dimples” had largely won out as the more popular term.
Still, medical journals often use the terms interchangeably.
You’re welcome for that, by the way.
A genetic abnormality
It may be hard to believe, but dimples are actually a birth defect.
Unlikemany other genetic birth defects like sickle cell disease and anemia cheek dimples are no cause for alarm.
People with dimples have what’s called a"bifid zygomaticus major muscle.
“Don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz at the end.
Basically, this muscle abnormally divides into two sections and attaches to the cheek.
BothGarner and ex-husband Affleckhave dimples.
“Having dimples is probably controlled mainly by one gene but also influenced by other genes.”
It’s also entirely possible to have dimples yourself while your parents do not.
Science is strange, folks.
Because of dimples'“highly heritable"nature, you might think them to be incredibly common.
In fact, around 80 percent of the United States population does not have the facial abnormality.
We all want what we can’t have, right?
As it happens, though, dimples areliterallyconsidered a symbol of good luck in other parts of the world.
In China, for example, dimples have long been associated with everything from good will to attractiveness.
Inthe 2007 study, researchers revealed that “the dimple can make [Asian women] more confident.”
Naturally, this poses a challenge for women who do not possess the genetic abnormality.
Chin dimples differ from cheek dimples
Not everyone who has facial dimples has them on their cheeks.
Some people have what’s calledcleft chins.
Unlike your garden variety chin, cleft chins have a small gap or dimple through the middle.
Like cheek dimples, whether or not you have a cleft chin depends on your genetics.
If one of your parents has a cleft chin, you have a greater chance of having one too.
Although there are definitely similarities between chin and cheek dimples, there are also some pretty big differences.
During typical fetal development, the lower jaw fuses together.
A cleft chin results when the jaw does not fully fuse.
It may sound a little scary, but just like cheek dimples there are no adverse effects.
If you happen to have this unicorn dimple, you should know you’re very unique.
In fact, you’re so unique that science hasn’t even caught up with you yet.
The 20-year-old volunteer who participated in the study also had a grandmother with dimples in the same location.
They can actually occur in numerous areas of the body.
Some people have two indentations on their lower backs.
Just like chin, cheek, and mouth corner dimples, lower back dimples are assumed to be genetic.
Although all dimples aretechnicallyabnormal, the above varieties are all benign.
That is, they’re not going to cause you any harm.
Dimpling of the skin in other areas of the body, however,canbe cause for concern.
Sometimes, these dimples can be a sign of infection or other serious medical conditions.
If you happen to develop dimples out of nowhere, it’s best to consult your doctor.
Enhancing that spot and sculpting it further enhances this.
It is a symbol of wellness, youthfulness and sexiness.”
The plastic surgeon’s technique first involves liposuction.
However, these faux dimples don’t come cheap.
In early 2017, the procedure began retailing at 4,900 (about $6,400).Yikes.
Plastic surgeon Amanda Wong-Powell speculates that lower back dimples are attractive because they signify fitness and youth.
But is that the case with cheek dimples, too?
It could be, he theorized, that dimples are a sort of “feature of youth.”
Could it really be that simple?
Do we all just view people with cheek dimples as baby-faced and youthful?
Um, what’s that now?
Well, of course.
But, you know, you could havedimples!
Don’t forget the dimple machine
By the 1900s, dimples were obviously still in demand.
“Dimples are now made to order!”
a newspaper published in 1936 (viaThe Atlantic) revealed.
A suture is then positioned to “set” the dimple in its place.
It is not generally considered a risky procedure, but it is one that is challenging to reverse.
Additionally, time may not be kind to cosmetically-enhanced dimples.
These so-called “designer dimples” also do not look nearly as realistic as, well, natural dimples.
However, the surgically-added dimples can be seen no matter the person’s facial expression.
“I tell them it’s virtually impossible.”
As he noted to the magazine, “Even with a facelift, cheek dimples will not disappear.”
However, dimples canappearto fade over time due to fat loss.
And, as earlier mentioned, babies can experience dimpling of the skin from excess fat.
Once the little one grows and loses fat, the dimples will cease to exist.
