Back dimples are two small, symmetrical indentations on your lower back, sitting just above the buttocks on either side of the spine. They’re a normal anatomical feature caused by a slight gap between the skin and the underlying pelvic bone. Formally known as fossae lumbales laterales, they’re more commonly called “Dimples of Venus” (after the Roman goddess of beauty) on women, and sometimes “Apollo dimples” on men.
What Creates the Indentation
Back dimples form where your skin attaches to the posterior superior iliac spine, the bony point at the top of each side of your pelvis. There’s a short ligament connecting the skin directly to this bony landmark, and because there’s no muscle or significant fat padding that spot, the skin pulls inward slightly, creating a visible dip. The dimples sit symmetrically on either side of the spine, right where the lower back meets the pelvis.
Research published in Medical Principles and Practice found that people with back dimples tend to have a slightly different pelvic geometry: a greater pelvic incidence angle (meaning the pelvis tilts forward a bit more) and a more front-to-back orientation of the small joints between the vertebrae at the base of the spine. These are structural variations, not problems. The same study found no connection between back dimples and disc degeneration, disc herniation, or joint degeneration at the lowest spinal level.
Genetics and Who Has Them
Back dimples are considered hereditary. You either have the underlying bone and ligament structure that produces them, or you don’t. There’s no well-identified gene responsible, largely because back dimples are cosmetically harmless and haven’t attracted the kind of large-scale genetic research that disease traits receive. They appear in both men and women across all ethnicities, though they tend to be more visible in women, likely because of differences in fat distribution around the pelvis.
Why Some Are More Visible Than Others
Even among people who have back dimples, how noticeable they are varies quite a bit. Body fat percentage plays a significant role. A study cited by the American Exercise Council suggested that visibility improves at around 22 percent body fat in women and 32 percent in men. At very low body fat, the dimples may actually flatten out because there’s less soft tissue to contrast with the indentation. At higher body fat, the surrounding area fills in and the dimples become less distinct.
Muscle tone in the lower back and glutes can also slightly change how prominent the dimples appear, but the fundamental structure is skeletal. No amount of exercise will create back dimples if the anatomy isn’t there, and no amount of weight gain will permanently erase them if it is.
Back Dimples vs. Sacral Dimples
Back dimples and sacral dimples are completely different things, despite the similar names. Back dimples (Dimples of Venus) are paired indentations that sit higher up, on either side of the spine at the level of the pelvis. They’re a cosmetic feature with no medical significance.
A sacral dimple is a single, small pit or indentation located right at the base of the spine, near or over the tailbone, often within the crease of the buttocks. Sacral dimples are present from birth and are usually harmless. In rare cases, a deep or unusually positioned sacral dimple can be associated with an underlying spinal cord abnormality, which is why pediatricians check for them in newborns. If you’re wondering about a single dimple low on the spine rather than two symmetrical ones higher up, that’s a sacral dimple, and it’s a different conversation entirely.
Health Claims and What the Research Actually Shows
You may have seen claims online that back dimples indicate good circulation, easier childbirth, or enhanced sexual responsiveness. None of these claims are supported by research. The most detailed study on the topic, which used CT imaging to examine spinal and pelvic structures in people with and without back dimples, found no relationship between the dimples and low back pain, disc problems, or joint degeneration. The structural pelvic differences that do exist (slightly greater forward tilt) are within normal variation and haven’t been linked to any health advantage or disadvantage.
In short, back dimples are a benign anatomical feature. They don’t predict anything about your health, fertility, or physical performance. They’re simply a product of how your skin, ligaments, and pelvic bones are arranged.