Gelasin, which is commonly known as dimples, is a small natural indentation in the flesh. It can be found on any part of the human body, but mostly on the cheeks or chin. Cheek dimples, which are common amongst individuals, when present, show up when a person makes a facial expression especially when they smile.
Dimples are in reality genetic defects that are caused by shortened facial muscles.
According to Dr. Alex Uzodinma a Paediatrician, dimples are results of underlining flesh and “a baby born with dimples in the cheeks may lose them as they begin to grow due to the diminishing of baby fat.”
Dr. Uzodinma defines dimples as mobile tissues that are possibly caused by variations in the structure of the facial muscle known as zygomaticus major.
He went further to explain that though some people believe dimples to be defect in the bones they could also be a dominant trait mostly influenced by genetics. He said “some individuals are only carriers of a certain gene but do not display the traits affiliated with it.”
In the eyes of many, dimples are considered as a mark of beauty and loveliness. In fact, dimples are considered very attractive as they transform a person’s face especially when they laugh or smile.
The issue of how people get dimples has been a source of argument among many. Some believe it to be natural, that is, a person is born with it, others believe it to be genetics, while some believe that when a child is little the indentations could be made by pressing the individual’s cheeks inwards.
When asked to comment on the misconception about mothers pressing their children’s cheeks at infancy in the hope that they could give them dimples, Uzodinma laughed and urged mothers to stop “because no matter how hard you press your infants’ cheeks or where ever you decide for the dimples to be, it won’t work!”
As the saying goes, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. Almost everybody would love to have facial dimples, defect or not, but not all are lucky.
Come to think of it, knowing that dimples are a form of defect, would you consider those who have it as fortunate or not?
