Everything You Need to Know About Whisker Dimples

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Learn about the charming and unusual facial feature

Co-authored by Bertha Isabel Crombet, PhD

Last Updated: January 8, 2026 Fact Checked

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What They Are

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Rarity

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Celebrity Whisker Dimples

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Achieving the Look

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Video

You’ve heard of cheek dimples and chin dimples, but have you heard of whisker dimples? These adorable indentations can be found right below the eyes, like commas punctuating the face. If you’ve got whisker dimples yourself and want to learn more about them, you’re in luck! Keep reading to discover exactly what whisker dimples are, what causes them, how rare they are, and which of your favorite celebrities share this genetic trait.

Whisker Dimples: An Overview

An illustration of 3-4 people that features their whisker dimples.

Whisker dimples, also known as upper cheek dimples, occur when the main facial muscle splits into bundles that bunch up just below the eyes. This creates the visible indentations known as whisker dimples. These kinds of dimples are considered cute in Korean culture, and many K-pop celebrities have whisker dimples.

Section 1 of 4:

What are whisker dimples?

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Whisker dimples are indentations on the upper cheek. If regular cheek dimples are indentations in the central, meatiest part of the cheek, whisker dimples are right above that. Also known as upper cheek dimples, these marks sit just below the eyeline. Intentionally named for the spot where a human-feline hybrid’s whiskers might be, they’re a result of irregularities in the most prominent facial muscle, the zygomaticus major.^{[1]
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- This big muscle splits into smaller bundles that have fibers connected to the skin, rendering the whisker dimples visible when someone smiles or talks.
- Whisker dimples are a genetic trait, seen as a result of your bone and muscle structure.

Section 2 of 4:

How rare are whisker dimples?

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Regular cheek dimples in general are considered a pretty rare trait, making about 20%-30% of the population cuter.^{[2]
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Research source} Although no exact statistic is known, upper cheek dimples are thought to be even rarer than that, accounting for a smaller, more niche part of the dimple spectrum. In other words, if you’ve got whisker dimples— you’re one of the lucky ones!^{[3]
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Section 3 of 4:

Celebrities with Whisker Dimples

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Many K-pop celebrities have whisker dimples. Upper cheek dimples are truly unique, adding a touch of charm to any face. These whimsical depressions are particularly beloved in Korean culture, where they’re seen as a symbol of beauty and youth. This physical feature is so prized that some K-pop celebrities have actually undergone surgery to achieve this adorable aesthetic! Here are a few celebs with such dimples, some of whom grew the dimples themselves:^{[4]
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- Ryujin from Itzy
- S.Coups from Seventeen
- Hanbin from Zerobaseone
- San from Ateez
- Hwang Hyunjin from Stray Kids
- Kihyun from MONSTA X
- Red Velvet Joy, TXT
- Beomgyu from Tomorrow X Together
- Moonbyul from Mamamoo
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A number of Western celebrities are also known for having upper cheek dimples. As it turns out, dimples are considered to be quite attractive everywhere you go, the Western World included. Upper cheek dimples, also known by their scientific name fovea buccalis, are often viewed as the perfect accents to the upper cheek, giving a face character and superior expressive powers. Here are some celebrities, namely actors, who use their whisker dimples to their advantage:^{[5]
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- Jennifer Garner
- David Corenswet
- Michael B. Jordan
- Carey Mulligan

Section 4 of 4:

How to Achieve Whisker Dimples

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Achieve this look by doing dimple exercises, applying makeup, or getting surgery. Even if you weren’t born with whisker dimples, there are still a few ways for you to join the dimpled masses! Doing dimple exercises by pressing your fingers into the desired spots for 30 minutes daily is a non-invasive way to get a more dimpled appearance. While this is not a practice backed by science, it is believed to create the appearance of divots on the cheeks. Here are other options:
- Use makeup to create dimples. Smile wide and using an eye pencil, mark the ridges where you’d like your whisker dimples to appear. Make small crescent shapes on your cheeks. This look is best for pictures and may not look as natural in person.
- Get dimple piercings. Go to a professional piercer and bring them reference photos. They’ll pierce your cheek and insert studs, creating the illusion of piercings. Warning: many piercers discourage dimple piercings as there is a chance of nerve damage.^{[6]
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- Consider dimple surgery. This specific surgery is called dimpleplasty. The surgeon makes a small tear in the cheek skin, places a stitch to connect the skin to the muscle, and voila! This can cost up to $6,000, and recovery can last a few weeks.^{[7]
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  - While there's nothing wrong with surgical enhancements if you really love the look of whisker dimples, don’t feel pressured into changing your natural features to meet unrealistic beauty standards.