Cheek Dimple Piercing: Jewellery, FAQs & Guide

Cheek piercings are still considered one of the more alternative body piercing choices. They are designed to look like dimples hence their alternative name, dimple piercing. This serious body modification takes time and proper aftercare to successfully heal so make sure you are willing to fully commit before getting a cheek piercing. See our list of FAQs to find out more about getting a cheek piercing and for information on dimple piercing aftercare.

How bad do cheek piercings hurt?

How bad a cheek piercing will hurt will depend on your pain tolerance. Cheek piercing pain is usually described as fairly low because the piercing is going through soft tissue. Some say that a cheek piercing can feel more painful because you have two piercings in one sitting. Another factor that makes cheek piercings hurt is that the flesh of the cheek is quite thick so it may take longer than other types of piercing for the needle to reach the other side. Remember, everyone experiences pain differently.

You will initially experience cheek piercing swelling which may cause the piercing to feel uncomfortable. Your piercer will have used longer piercing jewellery to allow room for swelling. It should go down after a few days but can take a few weeks to fully settle. This shouldn’t hurt but it may feel uncomfortable which is why it is important not to talk too much and to only eat soft, cold food in the first few days.

How long do dimple piercings last?

After the initial healing period of 6-12 months, dimple piercings can last a lifetime if properly cared for. However, unlike other piercings, dimple piercings go deep into the muscle which is why some people only keep their dimple piercings for a short amount of time. It is important to bear in mind that this deep tissue piercing is prone to leaving scarring. This piercing should be carefully considered because it is a serious body modification.

How do you clean dimple piercings?

Cleaning your dimple piercings will require two different types of cheek piercing aftercare. Using a saltwater solution or Tea Tree Oil gently bathe the outside of your dimple piercing using cotton wool, twice a day. The inside of your cheek piercing will need to be cleaned more often. After eating, swill the saltwater solution around your mouth and make sure you have no food stuck in your piercing.

When can I change my dimple piercing?

Make sure your dimple piercing is fully healed before you change the jewellery. Your piercer may advise that you change your piercing bars to shorter ones before the piercing has healed. Once the swelling has gone down, a shorter barbell can help prevent the jewellery from catching on your teeth and can reduce the movement.

How much is it to get your cheeks pierced?

Cheek piercings usually cost £50 - £65. The price will vary depending on the type of piecing jewellery you chose but it can be worth paying the extra cost for higher quality piercing jewellery as this will help your piercing to heal. Remember, a cheek piercing is usually a double piercing so you will be paying the price for two piercings at once.

How do dimple piercings stay in?

There are two types of dimple piercings. If you have a barbell the piercing will go from the outside of your cheek through to the inside of your mouth. This type of dimple piercing will stay in using two balls which are screwed to the end of the piercing bar. If you have a microdermal cheek piercing, your piercer will insert a dermal anchor under the skin. The skin will heal and grow around the anchor therefore keeping it in place.

Does piercing your cheeks give you dimples?

Piercing your cheeks can give the illusion of dimples but won’t give you real dimples. Your cheek piercing may not look like dimples to start with as the piercing bar will be longer to allow the piercing to heal. Once the piercing has healed you can change to a shorter bar which will pull the cheeks in slightly, making it look like you have dimples.

Do cheek piercings leave scars?

If you have your cheek piercings for a few months or more they will leave scars because they are pierced deep into the skin. Other factors such as knocking the piercing or getting an infection can lead to scarring. If you take out your piercings, cheek piercing scars can look like dimples but they will be scarred. If you stretch your cheek piercings you are likely to be left with a cheek piercing hole if you decide to remove your jewellery.

Are dimple piercings dangerous?

There is a risk to dimple piercings that is not present with other piercings. The cheek piercing is close to the parotid gland which controls saliva in your mouth. If you are not pierced by an experienced piercer you are putting yourself in danger of permanently damaging your parotid gland. This is an injury that cannot be fixed by a doctor. To limit the risk of your dimple piercing, make sure to only go to a piercer who has plenty of experience in the cheek piercing procedure.

Do cheek piercings ever heal?

Cheek piercings can take a long time to heal but they should eventually heal with the right aftercare. Once healed, there is still a risk that the piercing will get caught which may cause the piercing to become damaged and need further healing. Cheek piercings take time and dedication to heal so make sure you are fully committed before getting this body modification.

Dimple piercings need to be carefully considered as they are a serious body modification and can lead to scarring. Some people purposefully get a cheek piercing for the scars it leaves, in an attempt to get lasting dimples. However, the marks left from the piercings will still be scars and not dimples. Most piercings say that the safest way to get a cheek piercing is as a microdermal however this may not give the pinched-in effect of using a barbell.

There are plenty of things to consider with cheek piercings so make sure you read more of our Piercing Guides before deciding on your next piercing. If cheek piercing sounds a little too extreme for you then a lip piercing can give a similar effect but will be easier to heal and maintain.

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Piercing Procedure

Ready to get a piercing? Use our store locator to find your local Blue Banana Studio. There’s no need to book an appointment; you can simply go to the store of your choice and be pierced on the day. Please Note: Our stores do not offer cheek piercing due to the risks associated with it.

Make sure to check the piercing age restriction before coming to store. It can help to avoid any undue disappointment. In a Blue Banana studio, the piercing age restriction is ? (ID may be required) or ? with parental consent from a parent or guardian who is present.

Once you’re all booked in, you will have some forms to fill out. A member of Blue Banana staff will go through the steps and can help you pick out jewellery. Then you can meet the piercer! They too will give you a quick consultation and briefing before discussing the piercing location.

Cheek piercings can be done in two ways. If you are having your cheek piercing with a barbell or labret, your piercer will pass a needle through your cheek from the outside to the inside. They will then insert the barbell. If you are having a microdermal cheek piercing the piercer will make a small hole in the skin using a dermal punch or needle and insert a dermal anchor using forceps.

Aftercare Advice

A cheek piercing can take 6-12 months to fully heal. The healing time varies from person to person and will need top aftercare to ensure successful healing.

During the healing process, it is important to avoid knocking the piercing or putting pressure on the area as this will slow down healing and can even cause unnecessary problems. For the first few days of having your piercing you will need to talk as little as possible and only eat cold, soft foods. This will prevent the piercing from moving too much or becoming aggravated. After eating, use a saltwater solution of 1 part salt to 4 parts boiled water (slightly cooled) and swill it around your mouth.

When cleaning the outside of your cheek piercing, use salt water solution or Tea Tree Oil and bathe it using cotton wool. If you would like further information, make sure to read our full Piercing Aftercare Guides to learn about side effects to look out for.

Choosing Piercing Jewellery

There’s plenty of options when it comes to cheek piercing jewellery from Blue Banana. Some popular styles include:

Cheek Piercing Jewellery
Dimple Piercing Jewellery

There are a range of colours and designs to choose from in our cheek piercing jewellery range. When choosing your piercing jewellery there are a few things you should consider:

Jewellery Size – Make sure to find out from your piercer the size your cheek piercing jewellery should be.
Jewellery Material – piercing materials differ not only through their look but also how they could react to your skin. If you have sensitive skin that is prone to irritation, one of the many Titanium jewellery options is recommended. This material comes in a variety of colours and is durable too!

When searching for a piece of jewellery make sure you know your measurements. We display the piercing jewellery measurements as Gauge first (displayed in millimetres) then Length, e.g. 1.2mm x 8mm.

Gauge – this is the thickness of the jewellery itself.
Length – the length of the piercing bar, usually not including the ball.

Make sure to check out the tips from our piercing guides for information about changing and removing piercing jewellery.

Other Guides & Ranges

Please Note: Blue Banana piercing information is based on knowledge from our experiences as one of the UK's top piercing studios. All details provided should be read alongside professional advice. Please see our full Piercing Articles Disclaimer, here.

Cheek Piercing Jewellery