Look in the mirror at the beach and you might notice two small dents sitting just above your hips, near the base of your spine. For centuries, people have called them a mark of beauty. Doctors call them something else: a simple quirk of bone structure.
These are known as “dimples of Venus,” named after the Roman goddess of beauty. They sit directly over the sacroiliac joints, the spots where the pelvis meets the spine, right above the gluteal cleft.
Why They’re There at All
The dimples aren’t muscle, fat, or anything mystical. They form because a short ligament runs from the skin straight to a bony point on the pelvis called the posterior superior iliac spine. That ligament pulls the skin slightly inward, creating the dent.
Whether you have them comes down to genetics. If your parents have them, there’s a real chance you do too. No amount of squats or sit-ups will give you a pair if your bone structure doesn’t support it — though if you do have the trait, losing body fat can make the dimples more visible.
The Myth That Won’t Die
Online, you’ll find claims that these dimples mean better circulation, improved fertility, or even more sexual sensitivity. None of it holds up. Health experts are clear: there’s no scientific evidence linking the dimples to anything beyond appearance. They’re purely cosmetic.
It’s also a myth that everyone has them. Plenty of people never develop the trait at all, and that’s completely normal.
The Male Version Has a Name Too
When the same dimples show up on men, they’re sometimes called “dimples of Apollo,” after the Greek and Roman god associated with male beauty. Same ligament, same location — just a different name depending on who’s wearing them.
What We Know
Venus dimples sit above the sacroiliac joints, caused by a short skin-to-bone ligament.
They are genetic and cannot be exercised into existence.
Lower body fat can make existing dimples more visible, but doesn’t create new ones.
They carry no proven health, fertility, or sexual benefits or risks.
On men, the same feature is sometimes called “dimples of Apollo.”
They are distinct from “sacral dimples,” a separate, congenital feature near the tailbone.
Why This Matters
Here’s the part that actually carries weight: sacral dimples, found in newborns near the tailbone, are not the same thing — and parents shouldn’t mix them up. According to Cleveland Clinic, about 2% to 4% of babies are born with one, and while most are harmless, they can occasionally signal a spinal issue like spina bifida occulta or a tethered spinal cord. Pediatricians routinely check the size, depth, and location of these dimples for exactly that reason.
So the lesson isn’t just about a beauty trend. It’s a reminder that the internet loves to flatten anatomy into myths — “this means you’re healthy,” “this means something’s wrong” — when the truth is more specific. Adult back dimples are nothing to worry about. A dimple on a newborn’s tailbone is worth a doctor’s look.
As one pediatric guideline puts it plainly: when it comes to a baby’s spine, it’s always worth asking the question — even if the answer, most of the time, is simply “nothing at all.”