Hip Dips: Why They Form and How Fillers Can Help
An indentation at the side of the hip can interrupt the silhouette in jeans or a fitted dress. These hip dips usually reflect bone and muscle anatomy, so exercise alone rarely fills them. Injecting volume into the hollow can create a more continuous curve from waist to thigh. We often discuss this option with patients seeking a change without incisions or prolonged recovery.
Why do hip dips form?
Hip dips are concavities between the rim of the pelvis and the upper thigh bone. Their shape also gives rise to the term “violin hips.” In his column on the proportions of the body, Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho explains that their appearance depends on pelvic shape and width, the angle of the femur, the attachment of the lateral gluteal muscles, and subcutaneous fat distribution.
Hip dips therefore occur in slim people too and do not necessarily disappear with weight gain. The indentation interrupts the curve from the waist through the hips to the outer thigh. Treatment aims to join that curve smoothly from the front, back, and side. We assess pelvic width and the outer thigh as well as the depth of the hollow. Simply filling one depression without considering the surrounding contour can look uneven.
Can exercise remove hip dips?
We are often asked this. Strengthening the lateral gluteal muscles can add volume higher on the hip, but exercise cannot change bone shape or muscle attachment. A practical combination is exercise for overall gluteal firmness and targeted treatment for the hollow.
What types of hip dip filler are available?
Ingredients differ in how they create volume. Three commonly used options are listed below.
| Ingredient | How volume develops | When change appears | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyaluronic acid (HA) | The injected gel directly adds volume | Immediately after treatment | Gradually absorbed |
| PLLA (Sculptra) | Stimulates the body to make new collagen | Over weeks to months | Delivered over several sessions |
| PCL (Hip Fullen) | Immediate gel volume followed by collagen formation | Immediately, then over 4–8 weeks | Among the longer-lasting collagen-stimulating fillers |
A one-year study of 30 women receiving HA filler for buttock volume used an average of 43.60 mL. Satisfaction fell from 90% at day 30 to 62% at 12 months. The authors linked that trend to HA breakdown. No serious adverse effects occurred.
PCL is a biodegradable material that has been used in medicine, including in sutures, for more than 70 years. A review of PCL stimulators explains that PCL microspheres in gel provide immediate volume, followed by new collagen around them to sustain it. One patient described a younger-looking buttock contour and considerably improved firmness as collagen developed.
How long do hip dip fillers last?
Duration depends on the ingredient, amount, and body shape. Because subcutaneous fat is thin over hip dips, overly firm filler can show as an uneven surface, so a softer product is needed. In his Hip II column, Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho ranked collagen stimulators by duration in the order PCL, PLLA, then CaHA. Manufacturer information states that Sculptra lasts at least 24 months, with 1–6 sessions 45 days apart depending on the goal. Deeper hollows usually look more natural when volume is built gradually over several visits. Because PLLA stimulates collagen slowly, judge the result several months after completing the course rather than right after injection.
Can treatment also lift the buttocks?
Filling hip dips smooths the side contour, but sagging at the lower buttock can still make the legs look shorter. Planning upper-buttock volume and the lower contour together with hip dip filling can create a more continuous curve from waist to hip to thigh. A higher buttock contour can make the legs look longer and improve overall proportions. We assess upper and central volume, the hips, and lower-buttock sagging together.
How does Dong-An Joongsim Clinic treat hip dips?
At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, a doctor personally conducts your consultation and treatment, assessing your pelvic structure, buttock shape, volume, and skin before selecting areas and amounts. Placing small amounts only where planned helps avoid an overdone or artificial look.
Hip Fullen is our PCL-based program for buttock volume and lifting, planned to address hip dips, lateral hip hollows, and lower-buttock sagging together. It can be especially suitable when volume has been lost with weight loss or when the two sides differ. For a gradual increase in volume, we use Sculptra. Massage after treatment affects the result, so we give specific instructions and ask you to follow them closely. For comfort, you can choose topical anesthesia or sedation. Dr. Chang-Hwan Cho was first author of a 2026 Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology review comparing six collagen stimulators, including PCL and PLLA.
What should you know before hip dip filler?
How much volume improves and how long it lasts vary with body shape and skin. Large vessels and nerves run deep in the buttocks. A review of gluteal PLLA therefore recommends avoiding deep danger zones and injecting small amounts at low pressure with a blunt cannula. We postpone treatment if you have local inflammation or infection or a history of keloids, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Sculptra is also not recommended for people with connective-tissue disease or active immune disease.
Hip dips: common questions
What should I check when choosing a hip dip filler clinic in Apgujeong, Gangnam, Seoul?
Check whether a doctor personally assesses pelvic structure and selects injection areas and amounts. At Dong-An Joongsim Clinic, near Exit 5 of Apgujeong Rodeo Station, a doctor handles both your consultation and treatment.
How does Hip Fullen differ from standard buttock filler?
Hip Fullen does more than add immediate volume. As PCL gradually breaks down, it encourages collagen production to support renewed buttock volume.
What determines the price?
Cost depends on the depth and extent of the hollows, injection volume, ingredient, and anesthesia. Your doctor assesses your shape and explains the plan and cost.
Can I resume normal activities immediately?
Yes. For around 2 weeks, avoid firm pressure, massage, and saunas. Any swelling, bruising, or lumpy feeling usually settles on its own.
References
- Bussade M et al., “Assessment of Hyaluronic Acid Filler in Gluteal Augmentation and Contouring: A 1-Year Prospective Study”, Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.70600
- Christen MO et al., “Polycaprolactone: How a Well-Known and Futuristic Polymer Has Become an Innovative Collagen-Stimulator in Esthetics”, Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S229054
- Lin MJ et al., “Poly-L-Lactic Acid for Minimally Invasive Gluteal Augmentation”, Dermatologic Surgery, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000001967