Hip Dips: The Most Popular Liposuction Procedure

Over the last several years, we’ve moved past heroin chic and into the hourglass silhouette as the body shape du jour.

We’ve fully embraced a curvier body figure, but to many people, these curves don’t come naturally. Sometimes, even with the best diet and exercise routine, there are still problem areas that you’d like to address. For some, the number one problem area is something called hip dips.  Hip dips are naturally occurring indents or depressions on the outside part of your upper legs just below your hip bone. Fortunately, body contouring treatments have made achieving the derrière of your dreams possible. In order to determine which shape-enhancing procedure is right for you, let’s go over two of the most popular ways to achieve it: liposuction and non-surgical contouring.

What is Liposuction?

Liposuction contours specific areas of the body by removing localized fat deposits resulting in a slimmer, more balanced look. And while it doesn’t replace traditional dieting and exercise, it can remove stubborn areas of fat that do not respond to traditional weight loss methods. There are many benefits of liposuction, including:

• Enhancing and contouring your body by reducing fatty areas problem areas
• Reducing or removing lipomas: benign fatty tumors in certain areas of the body
• Treating gynecomastia: excessive amounts of breast tissue in men by removing the fatty deposits
• Treating lipodystrophy syndrome: a fat metabolism disturbance that causes excessive fat in some areas of the body

How Does Liposuction Work?

Liposuction is performed on an outpatient basis under local or general anesthetic, depending on the area being treated and the amount of fat that will be removed. Dr. Barrett will make several tiny incisions in the treated area, and a fine cannula is then inserted through the incisions to suction out the fat. Very few, if any stitches are needed after liposuction since the incisions are small enough to heal on their own.

Liposuction may be right for you if you’re in good overall health and maintain a healthy lifestyle, but have one or more problem areas with unresponsive fat deposits. It’s important to remember that liposuction can’t be used as a replacement for substantial weight loss, but instead used to remove excess fat in localized areas after you’ve attempted other traditional weight loss methods.

What is Non-Surgical Contouring?

Enhancing your shape without anesthesia or incisions is known as non-surgical contouring. Procedures like the non-surgical butt lift have made non-surgical contouring very  popular. Achieving an hourglass figure without surgery is done through the injectable dermal filler, Sculptra. Offering limited pain and downtime, Sculptra contains poly-L-lactic acid, which works in a different way than standard hyaluronic acid dermal fillers like Juvederm; instead of adding volume right away, it stimulates the body’s own production of collagen to produce youthful volume naturally over time. While this means your results take time to develop, they also last longer than traditional fillers, with most patients enjoying their non-surgical buttock lift for up to three years or more.

Which One is Right For You?

Non-surgical contouring may seem like the best of both worlds, but there are situations in which liposuction might be the better option for you. If you have a significant amount of unwanted fat, you’ll likely require surgery to remove loose skin and create a firmer silhouette. Additionally, if you’re looking for a substantial difference in size or results that last longer than a few years, liposuction may be a better choice. Conversely, non-surgical contouring may be right for you if you don’t want to undergo surgery and, most importantly, if you don’t have the sufficient fat required for the liposuction.

Taking the Next Step:

Are you interested in one of these procedures? Call us at (310) 398-2648 or fill out this virtual consultation form and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. We’re excited for you to take this next step!