Are you looking to enhance the shape of your hips for a rounder appearance, gender shaping, or simply to improve the appearance of your natural “hip dips?” For some exercise is enough to reshape the hips but fat distribution is determined by genetics and you can’t change your bone structure. For some, the most effective option is to undergo hip dip surgery.
Hip liposculpting is a popular type of hip augmentation that could be an ideal solution for you. Below we’ll go over what hip dip surgery is and what you can expect throughout the experience before and after your procedure.
Hip Dips Surgery Defined
This surgery is used to improve and refine the shape of the hips and buttocks. It focuses primarily on removing the natural hollows or indentations in the lateral hip-to-buttock area. This feature is often referred to as “violin hips” due to its resemblance to a violin shape.
The most common way to do this is by liposculpting, which is a fat transfer or graft to the hips. If the patient doesn’t have enough fat to harvest and inject into their hips, hip dip correction can also be accomplished using hip dip fillers or implants. Both of these techniques will produce a fuller, contoured hourglass silhouette many patients desire.
The Basic Process of A Hip Augmentation Surgery
Understanding the basic process of planning and getting the surgery is the first step to knowing
● Consultation
● Create a customized surgical plan
● Take pre-op photos
● Meet with our practice manager
● Schedule surgery with our surgical coordinator
● Obtain surgical clearance from your family doctor
● Return to the office for a pre-op check before surgery
● Have surgery
● Recovery
● Return to the office for a post-op check
What To Expect Before Surgery
Consultation And Planning
You’ll meet with your doctor and their team a few times before your actual procedure. During these meetings, you’ll work with your doctor to do things like define and plan your ideal outcome, complete a health screening, and take “before” photos.
Health Screening And Scheduling
Fat transfer surgery is relatively low-risk and safe for most healthy individuals. To ensure that it’s safe for you, you can expect a thorough health screening to determine if you’re a good candidate.
The cosmetic surgeon’s medical team will perform your health screening. You’ll be asked about your medical history and lifestyle, get a basic physical examination, and have routine blood tests done.
Safety: Special Considerations
There are a few health safety requirements you’ll need to meet before being deemed a healthy candidate. Good circulation is vital for hip fat transfer. For this reason, you may need to refrain from smoking a few weeks before your procedure. You’ll also need to be within 30% of your ideal body weight, so you may need to change lifestyle habits like diet or exercise to be in this range.
There are a few common contraindications as well. If you have a history of bleeding or autoimmune disorders, this surgery may not be safe for you. A recent rapid weight loss of 25 pounds or more may also prevent you from getting the surgery.
Scheduling And Pre-Op Medical Checks
Once you’ve done the health screening, you’ll schedule your surgery. During this period, you’ll implement any necessary lifestyle changes and get clearance from your family doctor to undergo the procedure.
Shortly before your scheduled surgery, you should expect to visit the office one more time for a pre-op medical check. At this appointment, the medical team will give you final instructions to prepare for surgery.
What To Expect During Surgery
Surgery day is exciting. It’s also perfectly normal to be nervous, but knowing what to expect can make all the difference and help you prepare.
Hip augmentation is an outpatient procedure that generally takes 3-4 hours. You’ll be sedated under general anesthesia.
If you’re using hip dip filler, the filler is injected into the target areas. If you’re having a fat transfer, fat is removed from your belly, buttocks, or inner thighs. You’ll work with your surgeon to help decide the fat removal site beforehand.
Small incisions are made to remove fat. These are later stitched and bandaged. The fat is then purified using a machine that removes blood and other fluids. The final step is injecting the fat into your hip dips, filling them out, and creating a fuller, smoother contour.
What To Expect After Surgery
Aftercare
You’ll need someone to drive you home after a fat grafting procedure. There may be pain, bruising, or swelling at the injection or incision sites for 1-3 weeks after a fat transfer. You should also expect to perform minor wound care during this healing period and communicate with your doctor if you experience any serious side effects or infection.
Recovery
Most patients return to light walking and working one day after surgery. You can expect to resume light exercise after two weeks. More strenuous exercise or work can be resumed in about four weeks. Full recovery from fat transfer can take eight weeks or more, and you can expect to start seeing full results in six to twelve weeks. You’ll need to sleep on your stomach or back during this time to ensure fat survival, as well as drink a lot of water. If you get hip dip fillers, recovery time is somewhat less. To get the best results, eat a healthy balanced diet before and during the healing process. We strongly recommend getting nutrition counseling to ensure you’re consuming enough protein, carbs, and fat daily.
You’ll also have a post-op appointment during this period to ensure everything is healing well.
Results And Upkeep
Fat grafting will temporarily eliminate or reduce the appearance of hip depressions. However, 30% to 50% of the fat injected into your hip area might potentially be reabsorbed by your body within a year of surgery. Fillers will also be reabsorbed after a period of time.
For this reason, you may wish to have additional touch-up procedures to maintain optimal results.
Conclusion
If you’re unhappy with your hip dips or want to reshape your hip area, hip dip surgery may be the right option for you. The most important first step before making a decision is always to consult with a surgeon to determine your options and a safe treatment for your desired results.
Book a consultation with a professional to decide if this surgery is right for you. Leif Rogers is an Ivy League-educated, board-certified plastic surgeon based in Beverly Hills, CA. If you’re considering hip augmentation, get in touch with our team to schedule your consultation today.
