Hip dips are natural, inward curves on the sides of the hips and are not a medical condition. For patients seeking a smoother silhouette without surgery, Dr. Ömer Fatih Şahin’s clinic in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, offers advanced biostimulation using PLLA (Poly-L-lactic acid) products like Lanluma and Sculptra. Instead of instantly filling the area with artificial volume or undergoing surgical fat transfer, this approach stimulates your body’s own collagen production for a gradual, natural, and long-lasting contour improvement.

What Are Hip Dips and Why Do They Occur?

Hip dips (also known as violin hips) are inward depressions along the side of your body, just below the hip bone. They are related to the shape of your pelvis, the width of your hips, the position of your femur, and the natural distribution of your fat and muscle.

The most important thing to know is: Hip dips are entirely normal and not a disease.

• They are frequently seen in very athletic and slim individuals.

• While building gluteal muscle through exercise can slightly soften the appearance, it often cannot completely change the anatomical bone structure.

When evaluating hip dips, the focus should go beyond the simple addition of volume and instead center on the patient’s desired outcome: maximum projection, a softer transition, or improved tissue quality.

What is PLLA (Poly-L-Lactic Acid)?

PLLA is an advanced biostimulator used in aesthetic medicine. Unlike traditional dermal fillers that just take up space, PLLA acts as a “seed” to wake up your body’s fibroblast cells, making them produce fresh collagen.

• Lanluma: Officially described as a collagen-stimulating injection that improves skin quality, adds volume, and enhances contours in selected areas. Smoothing out hip dips and enhancing buttocks shape are among its primary body indications.

• Sculptra (Galderma): By the end of 2025, Galderma expanded its use in various body areas, including the gluteal region, with EU MDR certification. Galderma emphasizes progressive improvement, skin firmness, lifting effects, and contour optimization.

Why Choose PLLA for Hip Dips? (The Istanbul Approach)

At our clinic in Turkey, we don’t believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach. However, for many international patients, PLLA-based biostimulation stands out over traditional Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers or surgical fat grafting (BBL) for 4 main reasons:

1. Natural & Gradual Transformation: PLLA avoids the “overfilled” look. It provides natural-looking, progressive results that integrate perfectly with your body.

2. Skin Quality & Firmness: It’s not just about volume. Sculptra and Lanluma significantly improve skin quality, firmness, and provide a subtle lifting effect to the body.

3. Non-Surgical (Minimal Downtime): This is crucial for our international patients. Fat grafting requires liposuction, anesthesia, and a long recovery. PLLA injections offer a non-surgical alternative with minimal downtime, allowing you to enjoy your trip to Istanbul.

4. Biological Support: According to a 2025 expert review, PLLA performs exceptionally well in the gluteal region not by creating massive reshaping, but by providing superior lifting effects and skin quality improvements.

Treatment Comparison: PLLA vs. Fat Grafting

The Procedure & What to Expect

Who is the Ideal Candidate?

This treatment is ideal for individuals with moderate contour irregularities who desire a “soft transition” rather than extreme projection, and who prefer a non-surgical route. However, patient selection is key; literature notes that results can vary based on body composition, and patients with significantly low or high Body Mass Index (BMI) might experience lower satisfaction rates.

When Will I See Results?

Results are not instant. The effect develops gradually over time. While volumetric improvement for moderate hip dips is achievable, the biological response in body areas is slower than the face. Peak effects are often seen 3 to 6 months after the initial session.

How Many Sessions Do I Need?

The number of sessions is not fixed. It depends on your subcutaneous tissue, the severity of the dip, and your body’s biological response. We do not promise the exact same outcome for everyone; personalized assessment by Dr. Şahin is required.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Are hip dips a medical condition?

No. They are an anatomical body shape related to your bone structure. However, if they affect how clothing fits or cause aesthetic concern, treatment can be requested.

2. How does PLLA work for hip dips?

PLLA is a biostimulator. It doesn’t just artificially fill the gap with gel. It stimulates your tissue to produce collagen, gradually thickening the skin and creating a balanced contour naturally.

3. Will I see the results before flying back home?

You will see some initial volume due to the sterile water used to mix the product, but this subsides in a few days. The true magic (collagen production) takes weeks to begin, meaning your results will gradually improve over the months after you return home.

4. How long do the results last?

Because PLLA stimulates your own natural collagen, the results are much longer-lasting than traditional HA fillers. Patients typically enjoy results lasting up to 2 years or more, gracefully fading as the natural aging process continues.

5. What is the difference between this and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers?

HA fillers are gels that provide instant volume but degrade relatively quickly in body areas (usually 9-12 months). PLLA is a “collagen seed”; it doesn’t give instant massive volume but biologically firms and thickens your own tissue over time.

6. Is the procedure painful?

It is highly tolerable. We use topical numbing creams, and a local anesthetic (Lidocaine) is mixed directly into the PLLA product. Patients usually feel only mild pressure.

7. What is recovery like? (The Massage Protocol)

There is minimal downtime, making it great for medical tourists. You may experience mild swelling, tenderness, or bruising for a few days. Crucially, you must follow the “Massage Protocol” advised by Dr. Şahin (e.g., massaging the area 5 times a day, for 5 minutes, for 5 days) to ensure the product distributes evenly and prevents nodules.

8. When can I exercise or fly?

You are generally safe to fly the next day. We recommend avoiding heavy lower-body exercises and excessive sweating for about 5-7 days post-treatment.

9. Is this an alternative to surgical fat grafting?

Yes, for many patients it is a superior non-surgical alternative. It is especially perfect for patients who do not want surgery, do not have enough harvestable fat for liposuction, or simply want a sophisticated, natural contour rather than an exaggerated look.

10. Will it feel natural to the touch?

Absolutely. Because the added volume is your own newly generated collagen, it looks, moves, and feels exactly like your natural tissue.

11. Who is not a good candidate?

Patients expecting dramatic, massive volume in a single day, those with active autoimmune diseases, pregnant/nursing women, or individuals with unrealistic expectations are not suitable candidates. A thorough consultation is always required.