Am I A Good Candidate For Hip Implants?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am indeed interested in the hip augmentation via implant. I seek is to add more width from a front/back view to my hips. Definitely give me your thoughts. Also, I read this on your website – “Secondly overall hip augmentation is the lateral zone from the iliac crest down almost to the mid-thigh area” and I believe I am looking for this exact option, which is a width increase in the entire hip complex.  I also understand that there could be (and probably will be) implant edge visibility since I am so lean with very little fat mass. I already have all manner of shadows and protrusions due to my hip bones and muscles peeking out, so I’m not really too concerned with edge show. However I do train regularly (weight training), and focus on my glutes, quads, hamstrings, and TFL areas, and would love your input on how building more muscle might affect the look. I would assume that more muscle being under the fascial layer would just kind of ‘push’ the implant out a bit more. These are questions I might ask the Dr. when we have our consult. 🙂 

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. When is a good candidate for hip implant augmentation if they meet the following criteria:

1) they have exhausted any autologous fat injection hip augmentation surgery or are not a good candidate for fat injections  due to lack of fat,

2) they never have had any synthetic injectable fillers placed into the hips and/or buttock areas,

3) the zone of their desired hip augmentation area coincides with where hip implants can actually be placed,

4) they can except the aesthetic risk that most hip implants may have some degree of edging whose likelihood is based on the thickness of the subcutaneous fat layer over the implant which is placed on the deep temporal fascia,

5) that their desired amount of hip augmentation is not excessive as large hip implants are associated with much higher risks of complications beyond out of just implant edging. As a general rule that means the maximum thickness of the hip implant should be under 2 cm and preferably closer to 1.5 cm. (see attached imaging)

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon