Fat Injections vs Implants for Hip Augmentation

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello, I have read several of your comments on Realself.com. It seems the popular opinion is that fat transfers are better than silicone implants for hip augmentation. But my research suggests otherwise – fat transfers on hips don’t last no matter what technique the surgeon uses. Can you please advise if you have compared the two? Thanks.

A: It is not really a question of whether fat injection or implants are better for hip augmentation as they are very different treatments for the same problem with different risk profiles. As a general rule, if you have enough fat to use for the hips then that should always be attempted first as it has little risk other than partial loss of some hip volume. If one doesn’t have enough fat or has failed fat grafting, then implants are the only options with the typical risks of infection and a scar bit also offering an assured volume retention.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana