BBL vs. Hip Augmentation: Which Enhances Curves Better?
Updated November 2025
When it comes to creating fuller, more shapely curves, two procedures dominate the conversation: the Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) and hip augmentation. Both can dramatically transform your silhouette, but they achieve different aesthetic goals and require different approaches. The BBL uses your own fat to add volume and shape to the buttocks, while hip augmentation (also called hip dips surgery) uses fat transfer or implants to fill in the indentations along the sides of your hips.
If you're trying to decide which procedure will give you the curves you're after, understanding what each enhances—and where—is essential. Below, we'll break down how each procedure works, who makes an ideal candidate, and most importantly, which one delivers the specific curve enhancement you're looking for.
BBL vs. Hip Augmentation — Curve Enhancement at a Glance
Here's the short answer: A BBL enhances curves by adding volume and projection to the buttocks, while hip augmentation widens the hip line and smooths hip dips to create an hourglass silhouette. They target different areas and create different types of curves.
How a BBL Enhances Curves
A Brazilian Butt Lift uses liposuction to harvest fat from areas like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or back, then purifies and strategically injects that fat into the buttocks. The result is increased volume, improved projection, enhanced roundness, and better overall shape. A skilled surgeon also sculpts the surrounding areas through liposuction, creating definition and enhancing the waist-to-hip ratio.
The BBL creates dramatic curves by making the buttocks fuller and more prominent while simultaneously slimming the waist and torso. The transformation is three-dimensional: your profile shows more projection, while your frontal view reveals a more defined waist-to-hip ratio.
How Hip Augmentation Enhances Curves
Hip augmentation specifically targets the lateral hip area—the sides of your hips. Many people have natural indentations or "hip dips" caused by the shape of their pelvis and the way muscle and fat sit on the bone. Hip augmentation fills these depressions using either fat transfer or silicone implants, creating a smoother, rounder hip line from front to back.
This procedure primarily enhances your frontal and back views, widening the hips and creating a more pronounced hourglass figure. It doesn't add significant buttock projection, but it does make your waistline appear narrower by comparison and creates continuous curves from waist to thigh.
BBL vs. Hip Augmentation — Side-by-Side Comparison
Context: Which Procedure Creates Your Desired Shape?
If your goal is a fuller, rounder, more projected buttocks—the kind that fills out jeans and creates dramatic curves in profile—a BBL is your answer. This procedure is ideal for patients who feel their buttocks are flat, saggy, or lacking volume.
If your goal is to create a wider hip line and eliminate hip dips—achieving that smooth, continuous hourglass curve from waist to thigh—hip augmentation is your solution. This procedure is ideal for patients who feel their hips are too narrow or who have visible indentations that disrupt their silhouette.
Many patients actually benefit from combining both procedures to achieve comprehensive curve enhancement: the BBL adds buttock volume and projection, while hip augmentation widens the hips and smooths the lateral contour. This combination creates the most dramatic hourglass transformation.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a BBL?
A BBL is best suited for patients who:
- Have sufficient donor fat for liposuction—typically at least 10-15 pounds of excess fat in areas like the abdomen, flanks, thighs, or back
- Want fuller, rounder, more projected buttocks with enhanced shape and lift
- Are at or near their ideal body weight, as BBL is a contouring procedure, not a weight loss solution
- Have good skin elasticity, allowing skin to conform smoothly to the new contours
- Are in excellent overall health, with no uncontrolled medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or clotting disorders
- Are non-smokers or willing to quit at least 4 weeks before and after surgery, as smoking impairs fat survival and increases complication risk
- Can commit to post-operative restrictions, including avoiding sitting or lying directly on the buttocks for 2 weeks and wearing a compression garment
- Have realistic expectations about fat survival rates (60-80% of transferred fat typically survives) and the need for touch-ups in some cases
- Are typically aged 25–55, though age matters less than overall health and fat availability
During your consultation, your surgeon will assess your body proportions, fat distribution, skin quality, and aesthetic goals to determine whether a BBL can achieve your desired look.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Hip Augmentation?
Hip augmentation works best for patients who:
- Have visible hip dips or indentations along the lateral hip area, creating a less smooth silhouette
- Want wider hips and a more pronounced hourglass figure without necessarily increasing buttock volume
- Have either sufficient donor fat for fat transfer or are comfortable with silicone implants
- Are at a stable, healthy weight, as significant fluctuations can alter results
- Have realistic expectations about what hip augmentation can achieve—it widens the hips but doesn't add significant buttock projection
- Are in good overall health, with no uncontrolled medical conditions
- Are non-smokers or willing to quit, particularly if using fat transfer, as smoking reduces fat survival
- Can commit to recovery requirements, including limiting pressure on the hips and wearing compression garments
- May have naturally narrow hips due to bone structure, genetics, or body type
- Are typically aged 25–50, though candidacy depends more on anatomy and health than age
Your surgeon will evaluate your hip bone structure, soft tissue distribution, and overall body proportions to recommend whether fat transfer or implants would produce the best result for your anatomy.
Who Should Avoid a BBL?
While BBLs are transformative for the right candidates, certain individuals should reconsider or delay the procedure:
- Patients without sufficient donor fat, as there needs to be enough fat to harvest, purify, and transfer while achieving natural-looking results
- Smokers who cannot or will not quit, as smoking dramatically reduces fat survival rates and increases risk of complications
- Those with unrealistic expectations, such as expecting extreme projection that's disproportionate to their frame or believing all transferred fat will survive
- Individuals with uncontrolled medical conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, clotting disorders, or autoimmune conditions
- Patients planning significant weight changes, as losing or gaining substantial weight after surgery can dramatically alter results
- Those unable to follow post-operative restrictions, particularly the requirement to avoid sitting or lying directly on the buttocks for 2 weeks
- Individuals with history of fat embolism or previous BBL complications
- Patients who are significantly overweight or underweight, as ideal candidates are close to their goal weight
If any of these apply to you, your surgeon may recommend postponing surgery, addressing health concerns first, or exploring alternative options like implants or non-surgical treatments.
Who Should Avoid Hip Augmentation?
Hip augmentation is generally safe, but it's not appropriate for everyone:
- Patients with minimal hip dips or already-wide hips, as the procedure may create unnatural proportions
- Those with unrealistic expectations about how much the hips can be widened or how hip augmentation will transform their entire body shape
- Individuals without sufficient donor fat (if planning fat transfer) who are also not comfortable with implants
- Smokers who cannot quit (particularly for fat transfer), as smoking impairs healing and fat survival
- Patients with uncontrolled medical conditions that increase surgical risks
- Those planning significant weight changes, as fluctuations can alter the appearance of transferred fat or the surrounding tissue
- Individuals prone to keloid scarring (particularly relevant for implant placement)
- Patients with hip or pelvic pain or mobility issues that could be worsened by surgery
If you're unsure whether your hip anatomy makes you a good candidate, a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon can provide clarity on what's achievable.
Key Benefits of a BBL
Despite the specialized recovery requirements, BBLs remain one of the most popular body contouring procedures because they offer:
- Dramatic buttock enhancement with natural-looking volume, projection, and shape
- Dual benefit of body sculpting, as liposuction removes fat from problem areas while enhancing the buttocks
- Natural feel and appearance, since the enhancement uses your own tissue rather than implants
- Improved waist-to-hip ratio, creating an hourglass silhouette through strategic fat placement and removal
- Long-lasting results that are permanent once fat cells establish blood supply (typically 60-80% of transferred fat survives)
- No foreign material, eliminating concerns about implant-related complications or the need for future removal
- Customizable outcomes, as surgeons can sculpt and shape the buttocks to match your aesthetic goals
- Significant confidence boost, with patients often reporting feeling more feminine, curvy, and comfortable in their bodies
When performed by a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon who follows proper safety protocols, a BBL creates transformative, natural-looking curves.
Key Benefits of Hip Augmentation
Hip augmentation offers several compelling advantages for patients seeking lateral curve enhancement:
- Creates pronounced hourglass silhouette by widening the hip line and balancing body proportions
- Eliminates hip dips, creating smooth, continuous curves from waist to thigh
- Enhances femininity and curviness without requiring significant buttock projection
- Can use your own fat (natural feel and appearance) or implants (predictable volume that doesn't resorb)
- Improves clothing fit, particularly in jeans, dresses, and fitted garments that follow hip contours
- Relatively straightforward recovery compared to more extensive body contouring procedures
- Permanent results with implants, or long-lasting results with fat transfer (after initial resorption)
- Can be combined with other procedures like BBL, liposuction, or tummy tuck for comprehensive body transformation
- Minimal visible scarring, as incisions are small and strategically placed
Hip augmentation is particularly appealing to patients who feel their hip dips prevent them from achieving the body shape they desire, even with exercise and weight management.
What to Expect During Consultation
Whether you're considering a BBL, hip augmentation, or trying to decide which will better achieve your curve goals, your consultation is crucial. Here's what to expect:
What Your Surgeon Will Evaluate
- Overall body proportions, including waist-to-hip ratio, buttock size and shape, hip width, and torso length
- Fat distribution and availability, to determine if you have sufficient donor fat for transfer procedures
- Hip bone structure and anatomy, particularly the shape of your pelvis and how it affects hip dips
- Skin quality and elasticity, which affects how smoothly skin will conform to new contours
- Buttock shape and projection, including any asymmetry or areas that lack volume
- Medical history, including previous surgeries, weight changes, medical conditions, medications, and smoking status
- Your aesthetic goals, including whether you prioritize buttock projection, hip width, or both
Questions You Should Ask
- "Do I need a BBL, hip augmentation, or both to achieve my desired look?"
- "Do I have enough donor fat for these procedures?"
- "For hip augmentation, would you recommend fat transfer or implants for my anatomy—and why?"
- "What results are realistic for my body type and bone structure?"
- "Can you show me before-and-after photos of patients with similar proportions?"
- "What does recovery look like day by day, and when can I return to work and exercise?"
- "What percentage of fat typically survives in your patients?"
- "What are the risks specific to my case, and how do you minimize them?"
- "How many of these procedures do you perform per year?"
How to Prepare
- Bring inspiration photos of body shapes you admire, but understand that your bone structure and proportions will influence your outcome
- Be honest about your lifestyle, weight history, and goals, as this helps your surgeon create a realistic surgical plan
- Wear or bring form-fitting clothing so your surgeon can accurately assess your current proportions
- Ask about viewing 3D imaging or simulations if available, to visualize potential outcomes
- Discuss your budget and timeline to ensure the recommended procedure aligns with your resources
Your consultation is also the time to evaluate the surgeon's experience with these specific procedures, their aesthetic philosophy, and their commitment to safety. Don't hesitate to seek a second opinion, especially for body contouring surgeries.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need a BBL, hip augmentation, or both?
The best way to determine this is by identifying your primary concern. If you want a fuller, more projected buttocks, choose a BBL. If you want to eliminate hip dips and create wider hips, choose hip augmentation. If you want dramatic, comprehensive curve enhancement—fuller buttocks AND wider hips—combining both procedures often produces the most balanced, hourglass result. Your surgeon will evaluate your anatomy and goals to make a personalized recommendation.
Can I combine a BBL with hip augmentation in one surgery?
Yes, this is increasingly common and often produces the most dramatic transformation. Combining the procedures allows your surgeon to create comprehensive curves: the BBL adds buttock volume and projection, while hip augmentation widens the hips and smooths hip dips. The recovery periods overlap, so you only go through one healing process. Discuss whether you're a safe candidate for combined surgery based on your health and the length of the procedure.
What happens if I don't have enough fat for a BBL or fat transfer to hips?
If you don't have sufficient donor fat, you have a few options. For hip augmentation, silicone implants can be used instead of fat transfer, providing predictable, permanent volume. For buttock enhancement, gluteal implants are available, though they're less common than BBL and carry different risks. Some patients choose to gain 10-15 pounds before surgery to ensure adequate fat for harvest. Your surgeon will discuss the best approach for your body type.
Will my results look natural, or will people know I had surgery?
When performed by a skilled surgeon, both procedures should look natural and proportionate to your frame. The key is choosing a surgeon who understands aesthetic balance and doesn't overfill or create exaggerated shapes. Your bone structure, muscle development, and skin quality all play roles in the final appearance. Be sure to communicate your aesthetic preferences clearly—whether you want subtle enhancement or more dramatic curves.
How long do results last, and what happens if I gain or lose weight?
Both procedures create permanent changes, but your results can be affected by weight fluctuations. For a BBL, surviving fat cells behave like normal fat—they can expand with weight gain or shrink with weight loss. For hip implants, the implants themselves remain stable, but surrounding tissue can change. Maintaining a stable weight within 5-10 pounds of your surgery weight is ideal for preserving your results long-term.
Is there a safer alternative to traditional BBL?
Yes. Some surgeons now offer "safer BBL" techniques that focus on injecting fat only into the subcutaneous layer (just beneath the skin) rather than deep into the muscle, which reduces the risk of fat embolism. Additionally, some patients opt for a combination of less fat transfer with strategic implant placement. Discuss your concerns about safety with your surgeon and ask about their specific technique and complication rates.
Talk to a Verified Surgeon
Still unsure whether a BBL or hip augmentation—or both—is right for you? The best way to make an informed decision is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring and can evaluate your unique proportions, fat distribution, and aesthetic goals.
AestheticMatch connects you with experienced surgeons who can provide honest guidance on which procedure—or combination—will give you the curve enhancement you're looking for.
