You work out, watch what you eat, do squats until your legs give out — and still, when you look in the mirror, that concave contour on the side of your hips is right there. Or maybe what bothers you is the lack of volume and projection in your buttocks, no matter how hard you push yourself at the gym.
The truth is that some body characteristics have much more to do with your bone structure than with dedication or discipline. And that’s exactly where plastic surgery comes in as a tool of choice — not to fix a flaw, but to align the body you have with the body you want.
If you’re here comparing BBL and hip dips correction, you probably already know both procedures exist, but you’re still not clear on which one addresses what you actually want to change. This article was written for that.
What you’re seeing in the mirror has a name — and an explanation
Hip dips are those concave curves that appear just below the hip bones, on the side of the body, between the hip and the upper thigh. They create a silhouette with a lateral “indentation” that breaks the continuous curve many people are looking for.
The part most people don’t know: hip dips are determined by your skeletal structure — specifically by the position and width of your iliac bones. That means no amount of exercise will eliminate this contour, because it’s not fat or lack of muscle. It’s anatomy.
Understanding that already changes a lot about how you relate to your own body. It also helps explain why the right treatment needs to be surgical when the discomfort is significant.
What is a BBL and what does it actually transform?
A BBL, short for Brazilian Butt Lift, is a body contouring procedure that combines two steps: first, liposuction from areas like the abdomen, flanks, back, or thighs; then, the transfer of that fat to the buttocks. The result isn’t just larger buttocks — it’s a rebalancing of the body’s overall proportions.
By removing fat from areas where it accumulates and redistributing it to the buttocks, the BBL creates a more curvaceous and proportional silhouette. That’s why it’s one of the most sought-after procedures for anyone looking for a global transformation of the trunk and hip region.
Who is the ideal candidate for a BBL?
A BBL works best for people who have enough fat reserves for transfer and whose main goal is to gain volume and projection in the buttocks.
Candidates looking for a rounder, lifted contour — with a more defined waist as a result of the associated lipo — tend to see great outcomes.
Worth noting: depending on how the fat is distributed during the procedure, a BBL can indirectly soften hip dips slightly. But that’s not the focus of the procedure — and someone with pronounced hip dips who wants to specifically correct that area may need a different approach.
Read more:
👉 What Does BBL Mean? A Guide to Brazilian Butt Lift
What is hip dips correction and how is it different?
Hip dips correction is a procedure aimed specifically at filling the concave lateral hip area. The goal is to create a smooth, continuous curve between the hip and the thigh, eliminating the lateral indentation that characterizes hip dips.
There are two main approaches to this correction:
- Fat transfer (localized lipofilling): fat is taken from another area of the body and injected directly into the hip dips region. It’s the most natural option, with subtle results that integrate well with the surrounding tissue. It requires the patient to have available fat to donate.
- Hip implants: recommended for people with little available body fat, implants are placed in the lateral hip region to create the desired volume. The result is more predictable in terms of shape, but the recovery process takes a bit longer.
BBL vs hip dips correction: the differences that matter
Although both procedures work in the hip and buttocks region, they solve different problems.
The BBL focuses on volume and posterior projection of the buttocks, with a secondary body contouring effect from the associated liposuction. Hip dips correction focuses on lateral hip filling, creating a continuous curve in the silhouette seen from the front or back.
In terms of recovery, both procedures require post-operative care. With a BBL, there are specific restrictions around sitting directly on the buttocks in the first few weeks to ensure the fat graft survives. With hip dips correction using lipofilling, the care is similar but concentrated on the lateral region. With implants, the rest period tends to be a bit longer.
Can you combine both procedures?
Yes — and in many cases it makes sense. When a patient wants both volume in the buttocks and correction of the lateral hip concavity, the surgeon can plan a procedure that addresses both goals in the same surgical session.
This combination needs to be evaluated on an individual basis. Factors like the patient’s overall health, the amount of available fat, surgical time, and post-operative planning all determine whether the combination is safe and appropriate.
It’s not a decision made based on a reference photo — it’s a conversation between you and a plastic surgeon with real experience in this type of body contouring.
Read more:
👉 Combining Cosmetic Surgeries: What You Can and Can’t Do
How to know which procedure is right for you
A few questions can help you organize what you actually want:
What bothers you most when you look in the mirror — the lack of volume and projection in your buttocks, or the lateral indentation of your hips? Or both?
If the answer is projection and volume in the buttocks, a BBL is probably the right path. If it’s the lateral contour, hip dips correction is more targeted. If it’s both, a combination may be the solution.
But the definitive answer doesn’t come from searching online — it comes from an in-person evaluation with a qualified surgeon who will analyze your body type, body composition, and real goals before recommending any procedure.
The next step is a consultation with someone who understands your goal
Understanding the difference between BBL and hip dips correction already puts you ahead in the decision-making process. But knowing which one — or the combination of both — is the right path for your body requires an evaluation from someone with real experience in body contouring.
At Smart Plastic Surgery, every consultation starts with what matters: listening to what you want to change, analyzing your body structure, and building a personalized plan — no generic promises, no unnecessary procedures.
Our team specializes in body contouring procedures, including BBL and hip dips correction, with results that respect your body’s natural proportions and your specific goals.
If you made it this far, you’ve already taken the first step. The next one is scheduling your consultation and leaving with a real plan, made for you.
