If you are looking to reduce the appearance of hip hollows, you have options. You can either get surgery or turn to non-surgical alternatives like hip fillers.
Hip fillers, also known as augmentation treatments, are designed to improve the contour of your hips and give them a firmer look. There are several techniques, including corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and fat grafting.
Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are man-made anti-inflammatory drugs that are used to treat a variety of conditions. They work by reducing inflammation, suppressing your immune system, and preventing pain.
These drugs are often used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and osteoarthritis. They also help with allergies, autoimmune conditions like Addison's disease, and transplant rejection.
But, long-term use of these drugs can cause your bones to become brittle, called osteoporosis. Talk with your doctor about taking calcium and vitamin D supplements to protect your bones.
Intra-articular steroid injections for pain relief are commonly given to patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. However, a large study published in June 2022 found that they may speed up your need for a joint replacement.
Platelet-rich plasma
A concentrated form of your blood, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an emerging hip treatment that can help alleviate painful symptoms and promote healing. It can also delay the need for joint replacement surgery.
PRP is made by taking a sample of your blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to separate the platelets from the rest of the blood cells. This gives the PRP a five to ten-fold higher concentration of platelets than normal blood.
During an injury, platelets play a key role in helping blood to clot and bringing growth factors into the area of damage to speed healing. The PRP is injected directly into the damaged tissue, and it can be used to treat several orthopedic conditions including muscle, ligament, tendon injuries; arthritis; and fractures.
One study found that a single PRP injection compared to conservative therapy improved pain and function scores in 29 patients with chronic frozen shoulder who were not responding to corticosteroid treatment. In addition, a study in the Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery reported that a combination of PRP with hyaluronic acid injections was effective in patients with hip osteoarthritis.
Liposuction
Liposuction is a safe, permanent way to get rid of stubborn pockets of fat that don’t respond to diet and exercise. The procedure can improve your body contour, giving you a slimmer shape.
During your liposuction procedure, tiny incisions are made in the areas where you have excess fat. The fat is then sucked out of the area with a special liposuction cannula.
Once he has harvested the fat, Dr. Jonov will purify it of blood and then use a small cannula to transfer it to the hip dips.
You may have some pain at the injection and incision sites for a few weeks after your procedure, but this will go away as your body heals. In addition, you might have some bruising.
The best candidates for liposuction are nonsmokers with a healthy weight and firm, elastic skin. They should also have areas of unwanted fat that won’t respond to diet and exercise.
Fat grafting
Fat grafting is a cosmetic procedure that removes excess fat from one area of your body and injects it to another to add volume or improve a shape. It’s also used to correct sunken cheeks, eyelid bags, and thinning lips and facial features.
During this procedure, a patient’s own fat cells are removed from the abdomen or flanks via liposuction and then injected into other areas of the body. This procedure can help achieve a more youthful look and boost your confidence.
It can also be used to sculpt the hips and thigh region. This is especially helpful for women who have narrow hips and thighs that lack contour.
The fat grafting process takes a few hours, depending on the number of areas that need to be treated. After the procedure, patients should keep their donor and graft sites as immobile as possible for a few days to allow the fat cells to establish a blood supply.
