‘False dimples’: Be careful, this TikTok trend may cause necrosis

TikTok is full of beauty tips, but not all of them are worth taking on board. A video posted by Dutch TikTok star Pretty showing how to create fake dimples has sparked a lot of reactions. In these images, viewed more than a million times, we see her squeezing her cheeks with pliers to create fake dimples.

Like freckles, dimples are popular among influencers. They’ve been refreshed by stars like Kate Middleton, Ariana Grande and Harry Style because they especially highlight a smile.

Risk of scarring and necrosis

But using cheek clamps comes with risks. Repeated pinching over a long period of time in the same place can cause tissue death. The use of these devices carries “the risk of skin necrosis and subsequent scarring,” warned Dr. Ari Hoshander, a plastic surgeon in New York, in an interview with Dailymail.

The opinion is shared by Dr. Samuel Lin, also a surgeon in Boston. “Any device that compresses the skin in any way can cause scarring and chronic pain,” he notes.

The dimple effect has also led to an increase in the use of cosmetic surgery, which, again, carries its share of risks. “Because healing does not always occur as desired, it may happen that the results are unnatural or the dimples are asymmetrical,” emphasizes surgeon Martina Schneider in an interview with 20 Minutes. Skin, nerves, or even muscles may also be damaged during surgery.