Hip augmentation is a surgical procedure that can shape and widen the hips using hip implants or fat transfer. The process can correct and fill out hip dips. These are the dents alongside the body, below the hips. Usually, surgeons recommend fat grafting for these cases as it can be sculpted into the desired figure.
Hip implants are another solution but are usually less common. Hip implants give a more redictable result as they can last long-term and retain their shape throughout the years. The implants are made of silicone and shaped individually. For hip augmentation surgery, implants are customized to the patient's body to fit into the hips snugly.
The surgical procedure will require general anesthetic. It is usually an outpatient surgery and patients can go home on the same day. The process will begin by creating incisions under the beltline where undergarments or a bikini can hide them. The surgeons insert the implant into the incision and place it under the subcutaneous and fascia layer. They close the site with sutures and surgical dressing.
Fat transfer is another option. It is less invasive than hip implants and requires general anesthetic. This procedure can contour other body areas and slim down the waist while filling out the hips. As implants are not introduced in the process, infections are less likely to occur. The procedure begins by harvesting excess fat from other body areas like the abdomen or thighs. Surgeons use a cannula inserted into tiny incisions for this step. Once they remove the fat, it is purified and transferred into syringes. The fat is then injected into the hips to level out the dips.
These procedures will require 1-2 weeks of downtime and full recovery can take up to 6 weeks. As fat transfer is less invasive than the implant procedure, it has a quicker recovery time. Patients should sleep on their stomach or back for at least three weeks and avoid sleeping on their side. Doctors recommend refraining from sitting for too long and advise to stand at their desks when doing work for the first 10-14 days after surgery.
Patients need to wear a compression garment for the first 4-6 weeks and avoid strenuous activity.
The results of a fat transfer procedure can change and fluctuate over time as fats get reabsorbed by the body, but implants are stable long-term.
