3 Cosmetic Procedures To Treat Hip Dips

In the immortal words of Shakira, our hips don’t lie. But what if you are unhappy with the lie of your hip area? So-called ‘hip dips’ — indentations found along the side body below the hips and above the thighs — are natural and harmless, but we all seem to be obsessed with them. Google trend data shows that searches for the term (and it’s sister expression, ‘violin hips’) have soared this year. So, what’s driving the interest? We’re breaking down everything you need to know about hip dips and hear from two patients who chose different procedures to correct them.

What Causes Hip Dips

Hip dips or violin hips refer to the inward curves that sit just below the hip bone. Instead of the outer curvature of the hip being rounded, it’s indented. Hip dips are generally caused by the skin being tethered to a deep part of the thigh bone, and how visible they are depends on the width of the hips and the shape of the pelvis. For some, this indentation is barely noticeable. For others, it’s more prominent.

Despite living healthy and active lifestyles, people often find these dips won’t budge due to the anatomy of the indentations themselves. No matter how many times you do exercises that purport to target hip dips (think: squats, lunges, and deadlifts to increase muscle mass around the thighs and buttocks), those who are genetically predisposed to having them are unlikely to see much of a change because the lack of volume cannot be addressed.

Hip Dip Treatment Options

We said it before, but it bears repeating: Hip dips are natural, and there is no medical need to treat them. But, if they bother you, that doesn’t make them any less frustrating. Diet and exercise are unable to provide a whole lot of assistance, but there are some cosmetic procedures that can address the contour of the hips. With both non-surgical and surgical solutions available, we’re rounding up the most common hip dip treatment options.

1. Fillers for Hip Dips

• Average Cost: $800 to $1,000 per vial
• Downtime: No exercise for 24 hours
• Anesthesia: Local

The same fillers that you turn to for facial rejuvenation and contour can also be used to sculpt and volumize certain areas of the body, too. In the case of hips dips, providers can employ the filler to, well, fill out the indentations for a smoother, more streamlined silhouette (note: there are currently no fillers approved by United States Food and Drug Administration for hip augmentation, though some are used ‘off-label’ to improve hip contour). Sculptra®, a poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) injectable, is often the go-to for addressing hip dips because it is considered a collagen stimulator (meaning it helps the skin rebuild collagen and, thus, improve volume loss).

Both on the face and body, a series of treatments (spaced about four to six weeks apart) are needed. For hip dip correction, six to 10 vials of Sculptra® may be needed per session, which, if you are doing the math, can quickly become costly. It should also be noted that results are not immediate — they gradually reveal themselves over the course of four to six months. The benefit of Sculptra®, however, is that those results can last two years or more.

There is no downtime associated with Sculptra® injections, though your provider will likely tell you to refrain from exercising for the first 24 hours. Beyond that, bruising and injection site pain are the most common side effects and generally resolve in a few days.

2. Fat Transfer for Hip Dips

• Average Cost: $8,000 to $10,000
• Downtime: 1 week off from work; resume normal activities around 4-weeks post-op
• Anesthesia: Local or general

If you are looking for a more natural alternative to filler and have areas of unwanted fat, fat transfer may provide an ideal solution for treating hip dips. Like a Brazilian butt lift (BBL), the procedure involves removing fat via liposuction from one area of the body (think: the low abdomen) and injecting it into another (in this case, the hips). The grafted fat needs time to become acclimated to its new location, and, during the first year, patients can expect to lose 30 to 50 percent of the tissue. It’s worth keeping that in mind when you’re considering how much fat to have transferred, and your surgeon will be able to give you advice tailored to your specific body.

The procedure is carried out either under local or general anesthesia, depending on the patient and provider. In either case, most people return home on the same day. Because more than one area of the body is involved (both the donor site and the hips), post-op discomfort can be experienced in multiple locations. Swelling and bruising are common. While the benefit of fat grafting (when compared to synthetic filler) is that there is no risk of the body rejecting it, a patient must have enough excess fat in order to be a candidate. Since hip dips are often most prominent on those with minimal body fat, the procedure isn’t always a viable solution.

3. Hip Implants for Hip Dips

• Average Cost: $8,000 - $10,000
• Downtime: 1-2 weeks off from work; resume normal activities 6-8 weeks post-op
• Anesthesia: General

The most invasive and permanent procedure to correct hip dips is hip implants. The implants are usually custom-molded for the patient and made of silicone. Unlike silicone breast implants, hip implants (like butt implants) are not filled with a liquid or gel solution. Instead, they are more solid, do not leak or rupture, and are designed to look and feel like natural muscle tissue. During the surgery, which is performed under general anesthesia, your surgeon will insert the implants through small incisions along the underwear line. Patients typically return home the same day.

Compared to the other hip dip solutions, implant recovery is the most involved. While you can likely return to work within one to two weeks, it will be six to eight weeks before all normal activities resume. Like buttock implants, you’ll need to avoid putting prolonged pressure on the treatment area and your mobility will be severely limited for the first seven to 14 days. Swelling and tenderness are the most common side effects. While results are immediate, you will fully heal over the course of three to six months.

Patient Perspective

To better understand what it’s like to treat hip dip concerns with the modalities outlined above, we spoke to two patients about their experiences. Sarah opted for hip implants after first testing fillers, while Joanne turned her abdominal liposuction into a fat transfer procedure to address her hips. Below, they share their stories.

Sarah, 36, Long Island, CA

An athlete since high school, Sarah* had always been frustrated by the appearance of her hip dips. Spending hours in the gym every week wasn’t helping, so she decided to seek treatment to help improve her self-confidence.

Joanne, 41, Charleston, SC

Joanne* was initially consulting a surgeon about liposuction to address excess fat in her lower abdomen. During the consultation, she expressed concerns about her hips and was told that she would be a good candidate for a fat transfer procedure.

The Takeaway

Medically speaking, there is nothing wrong with hip dips. Aesthetically speaking, those with ‘violin hips’ may wish to address them. While fat transfer provides the most natural means of improving the contour of the hips, not everyone is a candidate. Hip implants and fillers (namely, Sculptra®) are alternatives, but it is important to consult with a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon who specializes in these sorts of treatments to ensure you receive the safest and most effective treatment plan for your specific needs.

*Patient's name has been changed