Hip augmentation surgery sculpts and adds volume via one or more of these techniques:
Hip enhancement can create an hourglass figure with classically feminine curves, making this type of cosmetic surgery especially popular with transgender women.
Good candidates for hip augmentation are healthy nonsmokers who are at or near their ideal body weight. Patients who don't have much excess body fat may be better candidates for Sculptra or hip implants, though a relatively new fat transfer procedure, BeautiFill, can be a viable option for slimmer patients.Â
If your primary goal is filling out hip dips, a concave curve also known as violin hips, your surgeon will probably recommend fat grafting. Implants can be used in hip dip surgery, and surgeons sometimes combine the two procedures, using fat to help conceal the implant and give the most natural result.
Hip enhancement is frequently combined with other procedures like abdominal liposuction, a Brazilian butt lift, a tummy tuck, or even breast augmentation for complete body contouring.
Your cost will depend on your doctor’s credentials and level of experience, their practice location, and the details of your procedure.
Surprisingly, a nonsurgical alternative like Sculptra for hip dips can actually be much more expensive than surgery.
When you book a consultation with a provider to discuss your options and their recommended treatment plan, ask for a detailed cost estimate, including their surgeon's fee, facility fees, anesthesia fees, and any other related costs.
Insurance won't cover the cost of this cosmetic procedure, but most providers offer payment plants or accept third-party financing options, such as CareCredit.
The hip augmentation photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Hip implants are made of soft, semi-solid silicone rubber, similar to the material used in buttock implants. They’re designed to feel like natural muscle tissue.
Hip implant surgery is performed under general anesthesia. Once you’re completely asleep:
This is an outpatient surgical procedure, so you'll be able to go home once the anesthesia has worn off. Make sure you have a responsible adult there to get you home safely.
Learn the pros and cons of hip implants
Hip fat transfer is a less invasive procedure. It’s an especially good option for anyone who wants to add curves while slimming their waistline, back, or other body areas.
Also known as fat grafting, this surgical procedure has several steps:
The technique is similar to a Brazilian butt lift, and these two plastic surgery procedures can be combined in one operation.
Dr. Alan Matarasso, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City and past president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, says that fat transfer to the hips is less risky than butt augmentation. “The risk of a BBL is in the triangle at the top of the buttock crease, where the blood vessels and gluteal veins are. When you work on the indent between the hip and outer thigh, it does not carry the same risks as buttock augmentation with fat grafting.”
This procedure also avoids the potential complications that can come with implants, including pain or being able to see them under the skin.
Just be aware that results are less predictable because only about 50–70% of transferred fat cells survive long-term. Some patients have underwhelming results or asymmetry that may require an additional procedure to correct.
Sculptra, the hip filler of choice, excels at lending natural-looking volume to broad areas.
A few things to know:
You can expect to need at least two weeks of downtime after a hip augmentation procedure.
Hip implant surgery recovery typically takes two weeks, but you won’t be fully healed for about eight weeks.
Fat transfer recovery involves about two weeks of downtime, but the full recovery process takes eight or more weeks.
Hip filler recovery time is minimal. You can return to work and most of your usual activities right after your appointment.
Hip implants are considered a permanent solution, though they can be removed if you experience complications or decide you don’t want them anymore.
Fat transfer results are also permanent, though you won’t see your results right away.
Hip filler results can last for several years.
Hip implant surgery and fat grafting are both considered safe when the procedures are performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon.
That said, they do come with risks and potential side effects.Â
Risks include:
Hip implants can flip, although recent modifications in implant design have reduced the rate of this complication to 5%.Â
One rare but serious complication of fat transfer is the possibility of fat embolism if your surgeon injects fat into a blood vessel. In this case, the fat can travel into your lungs and cause serious harm, even death. Board-certified plastic surgeons should be well aware of this risk. Talk with yours about how they avoid it.Â
Hip filler risks may include bruising, allergic reactions, lumps and bumps, suboptimal results, and, in rare cases, vascular occlusion.
Updated February 29, 2024