A “hip dip” is the inward curve on the side of the hips that interrupts an otherwise smooth line from the waist through the pelvis to the thigh, seen from the front or back. It is not simply a matter of being heavier or thinner: the shape of the pelvis and femur, where fat is stored and how the muscles are built all play a part, and it is a normal body feature. If that hollow makes the waist-to-buttock silhouette bother you, hip dip fat grafting — harvesting your own fat and placing it where it is needed — is one option to consider.
Contents
Why do hip dips form?
A hip dip is where the area running from the side of the pelvis to the thigh curves inward. In some people it is barely visible; in others it is quite noticeable regardless of body weight.
It is influenced by the shape and position of the pelvis and femur and by how the surrounding muscles and subcutaneous fat are distributed.
That is why simply gaining weight will not fill only the area you want. Where and how much fat accumulates differs from person to person.
Having a hip dip is not a medical problem. It appears in perfectly normal body types. Fat grafting does not “treat” the hip dip; it is a cosmetic way to add volume to the hollow and refine the overall silhouette.
| Factors that shape a hip dip | Effect |
|---|---|
| Skeletal structure | The shape of the pelvis and femur changes how deep the curve is |
| Fat distribution | The amount and spread of fat on the side of the hips changes the line |
| Muscle shape | How developed the gluteal muscles are affects the silhouette |
| Body proportions | Waist, hip and thigh ratios can make a hip dip more noticeable |
| Left–right difference | The two sides can curve differently depending on anatomy |
Related readingWhy hip dips form and how they can be filled is covered in “What Is a Hip Dip? Restoring Buttock Volume After 35” (Korean).
What is hip dip fat grafting?
Hip dip fat grafting harvests your own fat from areas such as the abdomen or thighs, processes it, and places it in the hollow on the side of the hips.
It is a little different from simply making the whole buttock larger.
When the hip dip is the concern, the focus can be on adding volume around the hollow so that the line from the waist through the hips to the buttocks and thighs flows more smoothly.
The donor site can also be planned as part of the result. For example, if there is enough fat around the waist or abdomen, harvesting from there can shape the silhouette around the hips at the same time.
Because hip dip depth, skeletal structure and existing buttock volume differ from person to person, it matters more to plan how much volume each area needs based on your current shape than to simply fill the hollow heavily.
In a study of 50 women who received fat grafts in the subcutaneous layer of the buttocks, the thickness of the fat layer decreased by an average of 18.2% at 12 months, and the rest was retained.[1]
What kind of line can hip dip fat grafting create?
The key is not to make one spot bulge, but to consider how the whole body shape connects.
A deep hollow on the side of the hips can make the pelvis look narrow from the front, or make the line from the waist to the thigh look broken in the middle.
Adding volume to the hip dip can help smooth the curve running below the waist, past the hips and into the thighs.
From behind, filling the hollow on the outer buttock can also refine the overall buttock contour.
The design depends on the shape you want. With the same hip dip, one person may mainly need volume on the side of the hips, while another also needs a better transition to the upper or outer buttock.
So rather than looking at the hip dip on its own, it is important to consider the waist, hip, buttock and thigh proportions together when planning a natural line.
What should you check before hip dip fat grafting?
Because hip dip fat grafting uses your own fat, the first step is to confirm that enough fat can be harvested for grafting.
In a slim body type with little body fat, the available amount may be limited. Even when there is plenty of fat, where and how much is harvested will change the overall body shape.
Fat grafting is also not a method where all injected fat stays as the final volume. Some fat is absorbed and some settles during recovery, so the early look and the volume after some time can differ.
Rather than injecting a large amount from the start, it is important to plan the overall balance based on your skeletal structure, skin condition, hip dip depth and how much fat can be harvested.
In buttock fat grafting in particular, where and how the fat is injected is critical for safety. If you are considering surgery, make your decision after reviewing the scope, method and recovery with your surgeon.
In a safety review of breast and buttock fat grafting, most complications were fat necrosis, and they increased with larger graft volumes.[2]
Hip dip fat grafting: common myths and facts?
| What many people think… | What the evidence shows |
|---|---|
| “Hip dips happen because you lost weight.” | They are mainly caused by pelvic bone structure and where the muscles attach. |
| “The more fat you inject, the better it fills.” | Over-injection raises the risk of fat necrosis, so it is important to inject in small portions. |
| “All the injected fat stays.” | In a study, the fat layer was about 18% thinner on average after 12 months. |
In hip dip consultations, I check the depth of the hollow both standing and with the legs together. If the depth changes a lot with posture, I plan the volume conservatively.
A “hip dip” is the inward curve on the side of the hips that interrupts the smooth line from the waist through the pelvis to the thigh.
🔬 Supporting research
Peer-reviewed international journal articles that support this article. Click a title to open the PubMed abstract.
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2019 — Subcutaneous fat grafting, 50 patients Subcutaneous-Only Gluteal Fat Grafting: A Prospective Study of the Long-Term Results with Ultrasound Analysis. Key finding: fat layer 18% thinner on average at 12 months In text [1] · PMID 30688886 · DOI
- Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery 2019 — Breast and buttock fat grafting safety review Autogenous Fat Grafting to the Breast and Gluteal Regions: Safety Profile Including Risks and Complications. Key finding: fat necrosis increases with larger volumes In text [2] · PMID 31136476 · DOI
🎬 Watch — Dr. Park Seong-Soo · BongBong Plastic Surgery
Related videos from BongBong Plastic Surgery's official channel and Dr. Park Seong-Soo's channel. Videos are in Korean and play on YouTube.
-
0:17 From deep hip dip to apple hip: before and after (Korean) BongBong official · 2023.08.17 -
8:04 Hip dips and the apple hip: implant-free BiVOL buttock augmentation (Korean) Dr. Park's channel · 2026.08.26
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can a hip dip be removed with exercise?
Building the gluteal muscles through exercise can change the overall buttock line. But because hip dips are also shaped by skeletal structure and fat distribution, exercise alone cannot fully remove the curve for everyone.
Can a slim person have hip dip fat grafting?
It depends on your current body shape and how much fat can be harvested. If body fat is very low, it may be hard to obtain enough fat, so it is important to first check how much is available from areas such as the abdomen or thighs.
Is hip dip fat grafting a surgery to enlarge the whole buttock?
Not necessarily. It can focus on adding volume to the hollow on the side of the hips to connect the overall line. Depending on the shape you want, other areas of the buttock can be designed at the same time.
Does the grafted fat stay as it is?
Not all grafted fat remains. During recovery some is absorbed and some settles, so the volume can change from the early result over time. This should be taken into account when planning surgery.
My two hip dips have different depths. Can fat grafting even them out?
No body is perfectly symmetrical, and hip dip depth can differ between sides. With fat grafting, the existing volume and shape of each side can be assessed and the volume planned differently for each. Hip dips are a natural body feature shaped by bone, muscle and fat distribution. But if the hollow on the side of the hips makes the line from the waist through the buttocks to the thighs bother you, hip dip fat grafting with your own fat can add the missing volume. What matters is not filling the hip dip heavily, but planning the overall silhouette with your pelvic structure, buttock volume and waist-to-thigh proportions in mind.
📖 References
Click a [number] in the text to jump to its source, and ↩ to return. Only papers whose title, journal and year were verified on PubMed are listed.
- ↩ Cansancao AL, Condé-Green A, David JA, Vidigal RA. Subcutaneous-Only Gluteal Fat Grafting: A Prospective Study of the Long-Term Results with Ultrasound Analysis. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(2):447-451.PMID 30688886 · DOI— Subcutaneous fat grafting, 50 patients — fat layer 18% thinner on average at 12 months
- ↩ Chopan M, White JA, Sayadi LR, Buchanan PJ, Katz AJ. Autogenous Fat Grafting to the Breast and Gluteal Regions: Safety Profile Including Risks and Complications. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(6):1625-1632.PMID 31136476 · DOI— Breast and buttock fat grafting safety review — fat necrosis increases with larger volumes
BongBong Plastic Surgery · Dr. Park Seong-Soo, Medical Director
Contact us for a consultation