Yes, it can slim and contour the hips.
In most cases, a wider hip structure is associated with a greater feminine charm. However, an accumulation of excessive fat in this area can cause some patients to have a “bottom-heavy” silhouette, which makes shopping for clothes quite challenging. Jeans that fit well at the hips are usually too loose at the waist, and dresses that are tailored may sometimes appear disproportionate. Besides, at Lin Health Europe Clinic, a hip liposuction is among our most popular body contouring procedures.
The only problem is that the question “Can liposuction make my hips smaller?” doesn’t have a straightforward answer. Yes, liposuction can drastically reduce the volume of the hips, but your skeletal anatomy can limit it. There is a clear difference between “wide hips” due to excess subcutaneous fat that is often called saddlebags and “wide hips” that are due to the pelvic bone. Knowing this difference is the first step towards a paved road that leads to a successful transformation.
Bone Structure vs. Fat: The “Pinch Test”
Liposuction is a procedure that removes fat, but it won’t be able to shave down your bone. So, if you run your hands down the sides of your body and find a hard, bony protrusion right beneath the skin, then the width of your hips is most likely determined by the iliac crest (pelvic bone). At that time, liposuction is likely to have almost no effect on the actual width, however, it can make the transition to the waist look smoother.
On the other hand, if you can grab a thick layer of fat along the side of the upper thigh or the side of your pelvis, then you have what we call “Saddlebags” or localized lipodystrophy. The “saddle bags” are a perfect target for cosmetic surgery. By eliminating this particular fat layer, the sides of the body can be visually “brought in,” so a straighter, more slender vertical line is made. During your consultation, not only would we explain the difference between the structural aspect and the surgically possible aspect, but we would also show it to you through a physical demonstration.
The Issue Of “Hip Dip”
A common mistake with amateur liposuction towards the hips is that the surgeon might over-treat the hip area by doing too much in one procedure, and as a result, the issue of “Hip Dips” will be exposed or even worse. The indentations between the high hip bone and the thigh bone (trochanter) are called hip dips (sometimes known as violin hips). Some patients have a deep hollow in this area naturally due to their muscle anatomy.
In case the surgeon forcibly extracts fat from the entire yoga area to “shrink” it, the surgeon may even unintentionally remove the layer of fat that was filling this dip, thus resulting in a skeletonized and uneven appearance. At Lin Health Europe Clinic, our specialists often choose the corrective method. We might carry out the liposuction very aggressively on the “muffin top” above the dip and the “saddle bags” below the dip, but the central portion of fat (or even the one that is added by way of fat transfer) is retained in order to produce a beautifully curved, hourglass-like, continuous line rather than an uneven, interrupted one.
Empty Bag Allowed? That’s Why You Need VASER
Skin around the outer hip and thigh is quite thick. Unlike the skin on the stomach, the abdominal skin is held up by the broad muscular wall; however, the hip skin is constantly under the influence of the force of gravity. If we extract a large quantity of fat from the hips via the standard mechanical liposuction method, the risk of the “Empty Bag Effect” that the patient has very thin skin will be quite high. The fat goes away, but the skin does not tighten up. As a result, a folded, loose pocket that looks like an empty bag is left behind.
What we do in most cases is that we let VASER Liposuction be the method of choice for hip reduction. The ultrasound energy that VASER emits has two effects: first, the liquefaction of dense, fibrous fat of the saddlebag for easy and smooth removal; second, it heats the skin’s underside to start the production of collagen. Also, if the patient has bad skin elasticity, the addition of J-Plasma (Renuvion) will be suggested as a method to “shrink-wrap” the skin tightly to the newly formed, smaller contour, thus ensuring that the hips look toned and not deflated.
Side Sleepers Face Difficulties During Recovery
Going through hip liposuction recovery definitely brings with it a unique challenge – sleeping. For the time period of two to three weeks after the surgery, the patient is not allowed to put any direct pressure on the area that was treated. This is very crucial as the healing tissue arranged in the shape of a flat surface is the new body of that area after fat removal. Side sleeping is a risky pose in this case because the body’s weight might locally compress the healing tissue, and thus asymmetry or permanent dents might occur (one-sided hip can look flatter than the other).
During this initial phase of recovery, patients need to agree to either stomach or back sleeping. We also utilize specialized garments with the side panels made of a sturdy material. In a nutshell, this period is a time of great difficulty, necessary, though, for the smooth, rounded shape achieved in the operating room to become the permanent one.
Hip Liposuction in Turkey
It’s not just about removing fat with the suction tool when it comes to reducing hip size; it’s also about achieving the right balance between the elements of the structure. Taking too much away can make the buttocks appear flat and pancaked; leaving too much can make the patient get a square look.
What we specialize in, at Lin Health Europe Clinic, is the lower body contouring from all angles i.e. “360-degree Lower Body Contouring.” When we say “hips,” we don’t only mean the hips. We think out of the box and combine the treatment with lower backs, the buttock transition (banana roll), and the outer thighs. This comprehensive care plan ensures that your newly less voluminous hips become a waist that is poised and legs that are shapely. Also, by taking advantage of the most innovative skin-tightening methods available in Turkey, we provide an option to international patients, which means maximizing the reduction potential without compromising skin quality.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hip Liposuction
Liposuction cannot help you with that. As it only removes the subcutaneous fat and if your wide hips are because of the pelvic bone structure, then surgery cannot help to change the width of the bone itself.
That can be quite the opposite if you do an aggressive liposuction. That is why we sometimes do liposuction in the surrounding areas and inject fat into the dip to make it look like a smooth, round curve.
It was said that if the large volume of fat was removed, then there could be a risk of sagging. Therefore, we don’t just do lipo but also use energy devices like Vaser or J-Plasma to tighten the skin and prevent the empty bag effect.
It can be so the hips and outer thighs would hurt a bit, like a deep bruise or muscle ache but the pain is generally manageable with medication and usually less intense than abdominal lipo recovery.
Do not wear jeans if you have hip liposuction because your skin will need time to heal and therefore, you should wear loose, comfortable clothing and your medical compression garment for at least a few weeks.
Bellini, E., et al. (2017). The science of gluteal fat grafting: a comprehensive review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Hoyos, A. E., & Millard, J. A. (2007). Vaser-assisted high-definition liposculpture. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Illouz, Y. G. (1983). Body contouring by lipolysis: a 5-year experience with over 3000 cases. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
