Surgery can often soften the look of hip dips, usually by transferring your own fat into the hollow on the side of the hip and sculpting the areas around it with liposuction. It can't change the shape of your pelvis, results depend heavily on how much grafted fat survives, and some people are better served by contouring around the dip than by trying to fill it.
This guide explains what hip dips actually are, what fat transfer can and can't do, how it fits into lipo 360 or BBL planning, who tends to be a good candidate, what recovery involves, and why implants and "permanent" injectables are rarely the answer.
In this guide
- What hip dips actually are
- What fat transfer to the hip can and can't do
- How it fits with lipo 360 or a BBL
- Are you a good candidate?
- Recovery: sitting, pressure and patience
- Implants, fillers and why "permanent" injections are dangerous
- Questions to ask in your consultation
- Frequently asked questions
What hip dips actually are
A hip dip is the inward curve on the side of the body, below the waist and above the outer thigh. Its depth depends mostly on anatomy: the width and shape of your pelvis, the height of the bony prominence at the top of the thigh bone, how your muscles attach in that area, and how your body happens to store fat around it.
That means hip dips are normal. Many athletic, healthy people have very visible ones. It also means exercise and weight loss can't remove them, and surgery can only change the soft tissue — fat and contour — around a bony structure that stays the same.
A lot of hip-dip content online shows dramatic before-and-after photos. Lighting, posing, pressure garments and swelling can all change how a hip looks. Our guide to reading before-and-after photos critically will help you judge them.
What fat transfer to the hip can and can't do
The most common surgical approach is autologous fat transfer: fat is removed by liposuction from areas such as the abdomen, flanks or back, purified, and injected in small amounts into the lateral hip hollow. Because it's your own tissue, there's no foreign material, and the surrounding liposuction can make the waist look smaller and the hip curve smoother.
What it can do
- Soften the depth of the hollow.
- Create a smoother line from waist to thigh.
- Combine with liposuction to improve overall proportions.
- Use fat that would otherwise be discarded during lipo.
What it can't do
- Change the shape or width of your pelvis.
- Guarantee how much fat survives long term.
- Guarantee perfect symmetry between sides.
- Prevent the area from changing with future weight gain or loss.
Grafted fat needs a blood supply to survive. Some of it is reabsorbed by the body during the first months, and how much remains varies with the patient, the technique and the aftercare. That's why responsible surgeons talk about improvement rather than a guaranteed final shape. For more on how grafting works, see our explainer on fat grafting.
Sometimes the most natural result comes from contouring around the dip — refining the flanks, waist and outer thigh with liposuction — rather than filling the hollow aggressively. Ask your surgeon to show you, with markings while you stand, both options on your own body.
How it fits with lipo 360 or a BBL
Hip dip correction is rarely a standalone operation. It's usually planned as part of a body-contouring session where fat is harvested from the torso and distributed to the hips, the buttocks or both. That has a few practical consequences:
- Donor fat is shared. If you also want buttock grafting, the surgeon has to decide how to divide a limited supply. Ask how they'll prioritize.
- Safety rules for buttock grafting still apply. If any fat is going to the buttocks, ask how the surgeon keeps it in the layer just under the skin and avoids the muscle.
- Operating time adds up. Each added area extends anesthesia time. Ask how long the planned operation is and whether everything should really be done in one session.
Our guide to liposuction 360 in Colombia covers the donor-site side of the plan, and combining procedures safely explains how surgeons weigh multiple areas in one operation.
Are you a good candidate?
Only an in-person examination can answer that, but these factors usually come up in the consultation:
- Enough donor fat in areas that can be safely suctioned. Very lean bodies may not have enough to fill the hips noticeably.
- A stable weight you plan to maintain. Grafted fat behaves like fat elsewhere — it can shrink or grow with weight changes.
- Good general health, no nicotine, and conditions such as diabetes or blood pressure well controlled.
- Realistic expectations: improvement in contour, not a new skeleton. See realistic expectations by procedure.
- Acceptance that a second session may be needed if retention or symmetry isn't what you hoped.
Recovery: sitting, pressure and patience
Recovery mostly follows the liposuction part of the operation: swelling, bruising, a compression garment (faja) and, often, lymphatic drainage sessions as recommended by your surgeon. The grafted hip area adds its own considerations, and instructions vary — follow what your surgeon gives you in writing.
| Topic | Why it matters | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Side sleeping | Lying on the grafted hips puts direct pressure on new fat. | How should I sleep, and for how long, and what setup will I need at the recovery house? |
| Sitting | If buttocks were also grafted, sitting restrictions may apply. | Can I sit normally, and what about the flight home? |
| Compression garment | The faja helps with swelling but a poorly fitting one can press on grafted areas. | Which garment, how tight, and is there a cut-out or padding for the hips? |
| Lymphatic massage | Often recommended for lipo areas; grafted zones may need gentler handling. | Should the therapist avoid or treat the hip graft differently? |
| Final result timing | Swelling hides the true contour for months. | When will you judge the result, and when could a touch-up be considered? |
Swipe to see the full table →
Because swelling resolves slowly, don't judge symmetry in the first weeks. If one side looks different months later, ask your surgeon about a follow-up assessment rather than seeking a quick fix elsewhere. Our BBL and lipo 360 recovery timeline gives a fuller picture.
Implants, fillers and why "permanent" injections are dangerous
Hip implants exist and some surgeons offer them, but they're far less common than fat transfer and carry the risks of any implanted device: infection, shifting, visible edges and the possibility of later removal. If an implant is suggested, ask how many of these procedures the surgeon has done and how complications are managed.
Temporary fillers are occasionally discussed for small areas, but filling a body region requires large volumes. Ask exactly which product is proposed, whether it's approved for that use, and how it's checked with Colombia's regulator, INVIMA.
Never accept injections marketed as permanent, "no surgery needed," or done in salons, spas or homes. Industrial silicone, oils and so-called biopolymers (sometimes called modelantes) have caused chronic inflammation, migration, disfigurement and serious illness. They are extremely difficult to remove. If you've had injections like these in the past, tell your surgeon before planning any procedure. Our page on non-surgical aesthetics in Colombia covers legitimate options.
Questions to ask in your consultation
- "Looking at my body, would you fill the dip, contour around it, or both?"A thoughtful surgeon will explain why, ideally while you're standing and marked.
- "Do I have enough donor fat for my goals?"Especially if you also want buttock grafting.
- "How do you inject the hip, and how do you handle asymmetry?"Ask how they plan for differences between your two sides.
- "What happens if retention is low?"Ask about a second session — timing, and whether there's a written revision policy.
- "Who performs the liposuction and the fat grafting?"Make sure the surgeon you chose does the parts that matter.
- "Can I see results in patients with a similar build to mine?"Look for honest results, not only the most dramatic cases.
The goal isn't to erase a normal part of human anatomy. It's a smoother, balanced shape that still looks like you.
Frequently asked questions
Can hip dips be fixed with surgery?
Surgery can often soften how hip dips look, usually with fat transfer into the hollow and liposuction around it. It can't change the shape of the pelvis, so the goal is improvement in contour rather than eliminating the curve completely.
How long does hip dip fat transfer last?
Fat that survives the first months generally behaves like the rest of your body fat, so it can change with weight gain or loss. Some grafted fat is reabsorbed early on, and how much stays varies from person to person.
Can I get hip dip correction if I'm very thin?
Possibly not with fat transfer, because you need enough donor fat to harvest. Very lean patients are sometimes advised that contouring around the dip will look more natural than trying to fill it.
Are hip implants or fillers a better option than fat transfer?
They are less common and carry their own risks, such as infection, shifting or the need for later removal. Never accept so-called permanent injections, industrial silicone or biopolymers, which can cause lifelong harm.
Will I need more than one session?
Sometimes. Because fat retention varies and the two sides may heal differently, some patients choose a second session after swelling has fully settled. Ask your surgeon about timing and their written revision policy before you book.
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