Dimple piercings usually cost $30–$100 for the pair in many studios, plus extra for upgraded jewelry and aftercare supplies.
When someone asks “how much are dimple piercings?”, they usually mean more than just the price tag on the day. You pay for the piercer’s time, the jewelry, follow-up visits, aftercare products, and the higher risk that comes with cheek piercings.
This piercing passes through the cheek into the mouth, so it needs more care than a simple ear or nostril piercing. Healing takes longer, complications are more common, and a rock-bottom price can turn into extra spending if things go wrong.
How Much Are Dimple Piercings? Cost Breakdown
Most studios charge a service fee for the procedure and a separate price for jewelry. A cheek or dimple piercing is often priced as a pair, since both sides are usually done in one session. Many studios list a range from about $30 to $100 for dimple or cheek piercings, with final cost rising when you choose higher-grade jewelry or gold pieces.
One popular piercing retailer notes that cheek piercings often fall in the $30–$100 range depending on location and studio, with the total going up for the pair and for premium jewelry choices. That base number gives you a starting point, then you add everything else that surrounds the piercing day.
| Cost Item | Typical Price Range (USD) | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Service Fee Per Pair | $30–$100 | Piercer’s time, sterile setup, both cheeks pierced |
| Service Fee Per Side | $20–$60 | Single cheek piercing, less common for dimple style |
| Basic Implant-Grade Titanium Jewelry | $30–$80 | Flat-back labret or barbell ends safe for long-term wear |
| Gold Jewelry (14k+) | $80–$250+ | Yellow, white, or rose gold ends, usually threadless |
| Downsize Appointment | $0–$30 | Shorter bars once swelling drops; sometimes free, sometimes a small fee |
| Saline Spray And Mouth Rinse | $10–$25 | Salt spray for outside, alcohol-free oral rinse for inside of cheeks |
| Tip For The Piercer | $10–$40 | Optional but appreciated when service and care are solid |
| Replacement Jewelry Later | $30–$150+ | Shorter bars, new ends, decorative pieces once healed |
Once you know the basic answer to “how much are dimple piercings?”, you can see why most people budget at least $100–$200 total for the first few months. That number includes the procedure, quality starter jewelry, basic aftercare products, and at least one downsize visit.
Dimple Piercing Cost Guide By Location And Studio Type
Where you live has a big impact on what you pay. Studios in busy city centers cover higher rent and staffing costs. Smaller town shops may charge less, but there can be fewer piercers with deep experience in dimple work.
Big City And High-End Studios
In large cities across North America and Western Europe, a dimple piercing session often starts around $70–$90 for the pair and climbs past $150 when you pick solid gold ends or designer brands. Well-known studios with a strong reputation for complex facial piercings tend to sit at the top of that range. You are paying for years of practice with cheeks and for stricter sterilization routines.
Smaller Town And Suburban Shops
Suburban or smaller town studios often list lower service fees. A common range is $40–$80 for both cheeks, plus jewelry. Some shops include a basic titanium set in the service price, while others keep the fee lower and let you choose from a display with different price levels. Before you chase the lowest quote, ask how often that piercer performs cheek or dimple piercings and how they handle complications.
International Price Ranges
In the UK, many studios list cheek or dimple piercings from around £40–£90 for the pair before jewelry upgrades. Across Europe, you might see dimple piercing prices between €50 and €120, again with wide swings based on city and studio profile. In other regions, prices spread even further, so local research remains the only reliable way to pin down an exact number.
What Drives The Price Of Dimple Piercings
Two people in the same city can receive very different quotes for the same piercing. The difference usually comes down to who pierces you, what goes through your cheeks, and how complex your anatomy is.
Piercer Skill And Experience
Dimple piercings sit close to nerves, salivary glands, and teeth. A piercer who has handled many cheeks will know how deep to place the jewelry, what length bar to start with, and how to angle the piercing so it lines up with existing dimples or creates new ones in a flattering spot. That skill shows up in the bill. Many studios list higher fees for complex facial piercings than for standard lobes or nostrils.
Health writers often stress the need for a licensed piercer and a clean studio for cheek work. A widely cited Healthline cheek piercing overview notes both the cosmetic appeal and the extra risk tied to this placement, especially when the piercer lacks training in oral piercings.
Jewelry Material, Size, And Brand
The safest starter jewelry for dimple piercings is usually implant-grade titanium or high-quality solid gold. These metals cost more than basic steel, but they reduce the chance of allergic reactions and give you a smoother healing period. Long starter bars are needed to handle swelling, and that extra material adds to the cost.
Well known jewelry brands often have higher price tags but come with polished threads, smooth edges, and precise sizing. Cheaper, unbranded jewelry may save money on day one yet lead to irritation, stubborn bumps, or early replacement later.
Anatomy And Piercing Complexity
Some cheeks are fuller or have dimples in slightly unusual spots. A piercer might need a longer consultation, more careful markings, or adjusted angles to protect teeth and salivary glands. In some studios that extra time is built into a higher base fee. In others, you may be charged an extended appointment rate.
If your cheeks are thin, the piercer may suggest an alternative such as microdermal anchors rather than full cheek piercings. That recommendation can shift both the risk and the cost structure, so it is worth hearing them out and asking detailed questions before you agree.
Risks, Healing Time, And Why Cheap Dimple Piercings Can Backfire
Cheek piercings pass through tissue that moves whenever you smile, talk, or eat. According to oral health research, mouth and cheek piercings can lead to swelling, infection, nerve damage, and damage to teeth and gums when things go wrong. Medical and dental teams warn that long-term contact between metal jewelry and teeth can chip enamel and irritate gum tissue near molars.
Sources that track cheek piercings describe healing periods of at least six months, with some people needing close to a year for the tissue to settle completely. During that time, the jewelry sits next to your teeth and inside your mouth every day, so care and fit matter just as much as the initial needle pass.
Short-Term Risks After Dimple Piercings
Right after the procedure, cheeks often swell and feel sore. Piercers usually fit long bars so the tissue has space to puff up without swallowing the jewelry. In the first days and weeks, the main risks include:
- Strong swelling that makes speaking or chewing difficult
- Bleeding or bruising around the piercing channels
- Infection in the cheek or inside the mouth
- Jewelry getting caught on teeth or bitten by mistake
A review of oral piercing risks notes that infections in the mouth can spread and, in rare cases, affect breathing or general health. That is one reason many dentists view dimple and tongue piercings as higher-risk choices than piercings in less active areas of the body.
Long-Term Risks And Dental Concerns
Once the initial healing passes, the main long-term worries involve teeth, gums, and nerves. Dental articles describe cases where cheek jewelry contributes to cracked molars, receding gums, or numb patches around the piercing line. Every time you chew, speak, or clench your jaw, that jewelry can knock against your teeth.
Some people also notice constant lymph fluid drainage from the piercing channels, plus faint scarring that changes cheek shape even if the jewelry comes out later. These outcomes do not happen to everyone, yet the risk grows when jewelry is poorly sized or placed by a piercer without much practice in cheek work.
Healing Timeline And Aftercare Costs
The mouth heals quickly in some ways and slowly in others. Many oral care references list healing times of one to six months for tongue and lip piercings, with cheeks often taking even longer. During that span, you can expect at least one downsize visit so your piercer can swap the long starter bars for shorter pieces that no longer stick out as much.
Good studios follow guidelines such as the Association of Professional Piercers oral aftercare guide, which recommends alcohol-free mouth rinses, gentle brushing around jewelry, and regular saline soaks for the outer side of the piercing. Those products raise your overall budget, but they cut the chance of infection and other complications.
Saving Money On Dimple Piercings Safely
Everyone wants a fair price, especially for a piercing that already asks a lot from your body. The challenge is to trim costs without cutting corners on hygiene, jewelry quality, or piercer training. A cheap dimple piercing that leads to dental work, scarring, or an infection bill quickly stops feeling cheap.
Smart Ways To Keep Costs Sensible
Instead of chasing the lowest number on a price list, use that quote as just one piece of your decision. Helpful steps include:
- Calling at least three studios and asking for their cheek or dimple piercing price ranges
- Asking which metals they use for starter jewelry and whether it is implant-grade titanium or solid gold
- Checking whether the downsize appointment is included in the initial fee or billed separately
- Looking through healed photos from that piercer to see how their cheek placements turn out over time
- Reading recent reviews that mention dimple or cheek piercings, not only ear or nose work
Some studios run seasonal specials or bundle deals when you get more than one piercing in a single visit. These can trim the overall bill without pushing the piercer below a safe rate for their time and skill.
Questions To Ask Before You Commit
Before signing the consent form, take a moment to ask direct money-related questions. Clear answers help you avoid surprise charges later:
- “Does this price cover both cheeks and the starter jewelry, or is jewelry extra?”
- “How much do you charge when we shorten the bars in a few weeks?”
- “If I need different jewelry because of swelling or irritation, what will that cost?”
- “Do you offer any warranty or touch-up policy if the angle or placement causes problems early on?”
If a studio cannot explain what is included in a calm, clear way, that alone is a useful signal when you compare your options.
Sample Budget For Dimple Piercings
To see how the numbers stack up, here is a simple budget outline for three common spending levels. Use it as a starting point and adjust based on your local prices.
| Scenario | Estimated Total (USD) | What This Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Conscious | $100–$150 | Lower-mid service fee, basic implant-grade titanium ends, saline spray, small tip |
| Balanced Choice | $150–$250 | Mid-range studio, brand-name titanium or simple gold ends, aftercare products, downsize fee, moderate tip |
| High-End Experience | $250–$450+ | Well known piercer, designer titanium or gold jewelry, multiple follow-ups, full set of aftercare products, generous tip |
This table does not include extra costs such as time off work if swelling is intense, dental checks if teeth start to chip, or new jewelry if you later change your mind about the look. When you put all of that together, the cheapest quote on the board rarely ends up as the lowest long-term cost.
Is A Dimple Piercing Worth The Cost For You
Dimple piercings give a strong, cute look that many people love, but the price runs beyond a simple one-time fee. You commit to months of careful cleaning, extra dental attention, and the chance of scars or tooth wear later. The money you spend on a safe studio and high-grade jewelry is part of that picture.
If you decide to go ahead, treat the question “how much are dimple piercings?” as a full-package issue: studio reputation, metal quality, follow-up care, and what it may mean for your smile over time. Set a realistic budget, pick a piercer with a track record for cheek work, and give your body the time and care it needs while those dimples settle in.