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As new techniques in cosmetic surgery become available, the parts of our bodies that we thought could not be enhanced in some way suddenly become possible. Many people often complain about hip dips and what hip dip surgery can achieve for them. Both women and men can have hip dip surgery, although most patients are women. Hip dip surgery most commonly involves fat transfer to the hips to fill in the visible indentations in the hips, which are most apparent when viewed from the front. Fat transfer surgery is a body contouring procedure commonly performed at Centre for Surgery.
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Women most commonly request hip dip surgery to improve their overall body silhouette. The desirable appearance would be a curved shape that forms a convex line around the hips and goes in at the outer thighs. When this convex appearance appears sunken or concave, many women come to us to seek treatment to fill out the hip dips.
Why are hip dips seen as an undesirable feature?
Every person has a unique body shape, and what is expected of one person may be thoroughly disliked by another. Hip dips are not linked with any serious underlying condition. People choose to get rid of hip dips because they are aesthetically unappealing. Although the aesthetic ideal of having rounded hips is what most women would like to have, many of us have a body type that does not conform to this ideal.
Women seek to have treatment for hip dips despite there being nothing inherently wrong with having them. They dislike their appearance as it impacts their self-confidence. Most women want to feel happy with their appearance, and any situation that accentuates the appearance of the hip dips may make them feel more distressed. Typical situations include being on the beach or swimming. Effective treatment options are available to improve overall hip contour, which leads many women to consult with us to see if the fat transfer to hips procedure is suitable for them.
Can hip dips be fixed with surgery?
Hip dips can now be treated with a range of different surgical procedures. The presence of hip dips is most often due to structural differences in the shape of the bone with no link to muscle bulk or fat distribution. Nothing can be done to improve the bone structure. Many people may benefit from regular physical exercise and specific exercises to tone and strengthen the area around the hips. However, these will not get rid of hip dips permanently. The best option for hip dips is to have a cosmetic surgery procedure. A personal consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon will allow you to decide on the most appropriate surgical treatment.
Previous surgical procedures for hip dips involved hip augmentation surgery with custom-designed silicone implants inserted into the hips to fill out the concavity that characterises hip dips. These custom-made hip implants often have complications, including malposition and gradual migration over time under the influence of underlying muscular forces. Other less invasive treatments involve collagen simulator injections, the most popular of which is Sculptra. This is only a temporary treatment with results lasting for no more than 18 to 24 months. Patients will require regular top-up injections to maintain the results over time. The most effective option for getting rid of hip dips is by having a fat transfer to the hips procedure.
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What are the benefits of fat transfer to hips?
Fat transfer to hips is the best procedure to correct hip dips in a minimally invasive manner. The treatment involves first performing liposuction to remove excess fat from another body part. The harvested fat is then processed to remove any impurities before being injected into the concavity of the hips. Fat transfer results in a fuller appearance with hips that have a more projected appearance. It is an entirely natural procedure as fat is taken from your body. The most common areas where fat is removed include the stomach, thighs, inner knees or back. Only small incisions are required to permit the insertion of liposuction cannulas to suck the fat out. Once the procedure is complete, the incisions are closed with dissolvable stitches, followed by a sterile dressing. Compared with silicone implants, fat transfer to hips is a minimally invasive procedure without requiring lengthy incisions and excessive scarring. Recovery is much quicker after fat transfer to the hips than implant-based surgery. Results after fat transfer to hips are as good, if not better, than hip dip surgery with implants. Fat transfer to hips is a much more affordable procedure as custom-designed silicone hip implants can be costly. The procedure also involves the removal of excess fat from unwanted parts of the body to achieve a more sculpted and contoured appearance.
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Where is the best place for hip dip surgery in the UK?
Hip dip surgery is a type of cosmetic surgery and is therefore not funded by the NHS. The NHS does not perform cosmetic surgery purely to improve appearance. A select few cosmetic surgery procedures may attract NHS funding, but patients must pass strict eligibility criteria before qualifying for treatment. Most patients would be advised to seek treatment at a reputable UK cosmetic surgery clinic such as Centre for Surgery in London.
You should ensure the independent healthcare provider you choose for your hip dip surgery is fully registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates all private clinics in England. All private clinics in England must, by law, be registered with the CQC and will be subject to a schedule of regular inspections to ensure that high standards of patient safety are maintained. You should also research the skills and qualifications of your fat transfer surgeon. Our surgeons specialise in fat transfer to hip surgery and other advanced body contouring procedures. We are well known for the high standard of post-operative aftercare provided by our nursing team, which has been described as ‘outstanding’ in previous CQC inspection reports.
How much does fat transfer to hips cost?
Fat transfer to hips cost is determined by several factors, including where you choose to have treatment, with prices in London higher than in the rest of the UK. The surgeon’s skills and experience selected to perform the procedure is also significant in determining the treatment outcome. Hip dip surgery is actually two procedures combined in one, with liposuction being carried out 1st to remove unwanted fat from an area of the body before being injected into the hips with fat transfer.
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Prices for hip dip surgery are approximately £5995 compared with much higher prices elsewhere in London. The procedure is a one-off treatment with no need for further top-up treatments every couple of years. Injections of Sculptra will need repeated treatment every two years to maintain the results, and modest improvements in the appearance of hip dips can only be achieved. It should be noted that any fat transfer procedure results in an approximately 30% fat reabsorption rate. Your surgeon takes account of this when injecting fat to ensure as much fat survives the fat transfer as possible. It would help if you were a non-smoker before considering fat transfer surgery, as smoking leads to a significantly lower fat cell survival rate.
If you are interested in having a hip dip surgery consultation, please get in touch with us on 0207 993 4849 and book a face-to-face consultation with one of our experienced fat transfer surgeons based at our state-of-the-art Baker Street clinic in Marylebone.
