10 Mar The Thing About Hip Dips

Our practice receives a lot of enquires about BBL’s (Brazilian butt lifts) and “saddlebags” are still top of the list for liposuction requests. In recent years, the term “hip dips” has started to appear in our mailboxes with increasing frequency. But what exactly are Hip Dips, and why have they become such a hot topic? Is a visit to a plastic surgeon the answer?

What Are Hip Dips?

Hip dips, medically referred to as “trochanteric depressions”, are the inward curves or indentations that appear on the sides of the body, just below the hip bones. They’re part of human anatomy, influenced by the structure of your pelvis, the distribution of fat, and the muscle composition in the area. Essentially, they occur where your skin attaches to deeper parts of your thigh bone.

While some people have more pronounced hip dips, others might barely notice them. This variation is normal and largely genetic. Hip dips are simply a feature of your body’s unique design.

Busting Common Misconceptions

1. Hip Dips Are a “Flaw”: One of the biggest misconceptions about hip dips is that they’re something to “fix”. Social media influencers often perpetuate the idea that a curvier silhouette without indentations is the ideal. This is misleading and harmful. Hip dips are not a flaw; they’re a natural anatomical feature.
2. You Can Exercise Them Away: While targeted exercises can help tone the surrounding muscles, they won’t erase hip dips. Strengthening your glutes and thighs can enhance your overall shape and may reduce the visibility of hip dips, but their prominence is primarily determined by your bone structure.
3. Only Women Have Hip Dips: Men’s pelvic area and buttocks are generally “boxier”/ square shaped compared to women and most men prefer to have Hip Dips. Convexity at in the hip area is considered to look feminine on a man. Over the years we have liposculped many a male hip area to achieve a more masculine looking butt.

The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to beauty. Sometimes it comes down to a matter of taste. In our youth, my husband and I were fully into our bodybuilding, and we regarded Hip Dips as attractive and a sign of athletic fitness. Times change and the body modification trend continues. We love the quote “under ever feminine curve is a well-toned muscle”. A prudent diet and exercise regime can do wonders for the tone, lift and curve of your butt and hips. If you are still dissatisfied with the curvature of your hips (be they either “too concave”, “too convex” or disproportionate in your opinion) a consultation with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon will inform you of some safe surgical options that can improve your contours. E.g. Liposuction, liposculpture or fat filling.

Hip Dips are just another example of how diverse and unique our bodies are. Whether you celebrate them or simply accept them as part of who you are, remember that they’re just a small detail in the bigger picture of your beauty and worth.