What Size Hip Implants Can I Get?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello I am interested in cosmetic hip implants. I would like my hips to be as wide as possible something like this if at all possible

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. Hip implants are unique amongst all the body implants for  variety of reasons including the inability to replace them deep in the hip tissues as well as their vertical elongation augmentation effect over a movable joint area. As a result hip implants have a fairly high rate of aesthetic complications (edging, implant show)  so patients have to be selected very carefully to try and lower those risks. There are two major risk factors, 1) thin patients with little subcutaneous fat (inadequate soft tissue cover) and 2) implants that are too big. (too thick for the tissues to adequately support them) Both of which exactly apply to you as determined by your pictures as well as your stated goals.

The key to lowering these risks is to avoid putting too big of an implant both in terms of length and projection as well as potentially skeletal anchorage of teh implant to the iliac crest. What that means visually is shown in the attached imaging. I have learned through  many painful experiences, both for the patient and myself, that doing with the patient wants often leads to major issues as opposed to doing what I believe is safe with the lowest risk of potential complications.

There’re two basic philosophies I have about the aesthetic implants anywhere in the body after having done thousands of them which is the following:

1) implants can achieve changes many times no other treatment option can do and it can have some spectacular effects.  But when it has problems the solution to them more times than not is implant removal and all is lost.

2) With implants In it is often better to have 50% to two thirds of what you want with no problems then it is to have 100% of what you want with one….for the reason stated in #1.

Dr. Barry Eppley