Medically Speaking: What Causes Them?
In most cases, these dimples are completely normal anatomical variations.
They occur where a short ligament connects the skin to the posterior superior iliac spine—the part of your pelvic bone that you can feel as two bony prominences on either side of your lower back. When you have a certain distribution of muscle and fat, these attachment points create visible indentations.
Key medical facts:
They’re genetic – If you have them, you likely inherited the trait
They’re more visible in people with lower body fat and well-developed gluteal muscles
They’re not harmful and don’t indicate any health problem
They’re permanent – They won’t go away with exercise or weight loss (though they may become more or less visible)
This is important. The charming “dimples of Venus” are one thing; sacral dimples that require medical attention are another.
Normal Back Dimples (Dimples of Venus)
Located symmetrically on the lower back, above the buttocks
Present from birth
No other symptoms
Skin looks normal, just indented
Sacral Dimples That May Need Evaluation
Located in the crease between the buttocks (lower down)