Published: October 10, 2024

Hip Dips (AKA Violin Hips) Explained

What are Hip Dips?

Hip dips, also known as “violin hips,” are the inward curves that can appear on the sides of the hips, just below the hip bone. They are a normal and natural part of human anatomy, and are typically genetic.

Hip Dips occur due to the shape of the pelvis and the way fat and muscle are distributed around it. Some people have more pronounced hip dips, while others have less noticeable ones.

Hip dips can be exacerbated as our body shapes change with age, weight fluctuations, or activity level shifts. It’s important to note that hip dips are not an indication of unhealthiness or any anatomical anomalies.

Can Workouts Reduce Hip Dips?

Because hip dips are actually loss of fat, targeted exercise cannot fully remove hip dips. Strengthening and building muscle in the glutes and outer thighs can help smooth out the area and improve overall body composition, however the hip dips will not fully resolve.

Will Losing Weight Naturally Remove Hip Dips?

While weight loss can influence the appearance of hip dips to some extent, it cannot completely “fix” them. Many people carry weight in the upper hips and lateral thighs, which then exacerbates the lack of fat in the hip dips causing the hip depressions to appear worse. For these patients, weight loss can reduce the upper hips and lateral thigh adipose tissue, making the contour difference to appear less noticeable.

What Cosmetic Treatments Can Fix Hip Dips?

Treatment for hip dips falls into two categories: surgical and nonsurgical. At Aesthetic Solutions, we offer nonsurgical treatment for hip dips. We’ll review all the options below.

Surgical Treatment for Hip Dips

Fat Transfer / “Brazilian Butt Lift”: This procedure involves removing fat from another part of the body via liposuction, purifying the fat and re-injecting it into the hip dips. In this instance, anywhere from 20-80% of the fat reinjected into the area survives. Patients undergoing this treatment will experience downtime, the extent of which depends on the treatment plan. The biggest risk of fat transfer is a fat embolism, which is when fat is injected into a blood vessel and travels to the lungs or brain. We recommend seeking out a board certified plastic surgeon for a comprehensive evaluation if you are considering fat transfer.

Nonsurgical Treatment for Hip Dips

Sculptra for Hip Dips: Sculptra, a biostimulatory filler, is often our “go-to” treatment for hip dips. Sculptra is an ideal product for areas like the hips, as over time is causes your body to produce new collagen. This means that in addition to the immediate benefit, results from Scultpra will continue to improve over time. Overall the process takes 30-45 minutes. After Sculptra treatment for hip dips you can resume your normal activities. Most patients will complete a series of sessions to achieve desired results. Using injectables in this area allows you to get a gradual, natural result without the risks or downtime of surgery. In November 2024, Dr. Ishii was published for her work in a clinic trial using Sculptra for Hip Dips.

Emsculpt for the Glutes: For patients who may benefit further from fat reduction of the upper hips and lateral thighs, doing a treatment like Emsculpt in combination with Sculptra produces nice results. This will help to increase upper buttock pole projection, which can camouflage the hip dips even more.

Hip Dips + “Saddlebags”: Combination Treatment

In some instances, patients may have an exaggerated appearance of hip dips due to excess fat in the hips and lateral thighs (known as saddlebags). Treatments like Liposuction or CoolSculpting can help to reduce contour irregularities and make the hip dips less prominent. Multi-modal approaches often lead to best results, which is why provider selection plays a key role in outcomes.

Treating Hip Dips at Aesthetic Solutions

If you are searching for hip dip treatment in the Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill area, we are here to help! Request an appointment with our team to discuss your options.