What Are Hip Dips? Understanding the Body Feature

Hip dips — also known as violin hips, hip divots, or trochanteric depressions — are the inward curves on the sides of the body below the hip bones. They are completely natural, determined by genetics and bone structure, and affect approximately 30% of women.

What Causes Hip Dips?

Hip dips are created by the shape of the pelvis. The indentation occurs where the hip bone (ilium) meets the top of the thigh bone (femur). The depth of the hip dip depends on:

• Pelvis shape and width
• Distance between the ilium and greater trochanter
• Muscle mass of the gluteus medius
• Body fat distribution

Are Hip Dips Normal?

Yes. Hip dips are not a medical condition, deformity, or sign of being overweight or underweight. They are a normal anatomical variation, present in women of all body types, sizes, and fitness levels.

Can Hip Dips Be Fixed?

Because hip dips are caused by bone structure, they cannot be completely eliminated. However, they can be made less visible through:

• Exercise: Building the gluteus medius and surrounding muscles
• Shapewear: Padded shapewear that smooths the indentation
• Dermal fillers: Sculptra or Radiesse injections ($4,000-$12,000)
• Surgery: Fat transfer (BBL) or silicone implants ($8,000-$25,000)

The Body Positivity Perspective

Many body positivity advocates encourage women to embrace their hip dips as a natural feature rather than trying to fix them. The #HipDips hashtag on social media features thousands of women proudly showing their natural shape, countering unrealistic beauty standards that suggest hips must be perfectly rounded.