Hip-Up Surgery Is Possible Even with Less Body Fat

Well-shaped bodies are receiving more admiration than ever, as reflected by the rise of competitions like Muscle Mania, Navi Korea, and Miss Sexy Back — where the posterior view is a key judging criterion. The apple hip is the first image that comes to mind for an attractive back figure. People with flat hip lines often see little change from exercise alone, which drives them to consider hip-up surgery. With the growing emphasis on natural results, buttock fat grafting is the preferred approach. Dr. Kim Hyun-soo of ReYeonK Clinic Apgujeong answers key questions.

Q. Can you explain hip-up surgery through fat grafting?

A. Buttock fat grafting involves extracting unnecessary fat from the thighs and love handles (flanks) and transplanting it into the buttocks. Since each person's skin elasticity, degree of sagging, and gluteal fold shape differs, a customized design based on these factors is essential for good outcomes. Experience in hip-up surgery is critical.

Q. What are the advantages of buttock fat grafting?

A. The biggest advantage is the ability to remove excess fat from the love handles and thighs — common trouble areas for women. Posterior line liposuction targeting the love handles, thighs, and lateral buttocks alone produces high satisfaction. Adding fat grafting to the upper buttocks creates a standout apple hip shape. Recovery time is also shorter than with implants.

Q. What are the disadvantages?

A. The available space for fat injection is limited, so this procedure is not suitable for those wanting a significantly larger buttock size.

Q. What's the solution for people with too little fat for hip-up surgery?

A. In the past, patients with insufficient extractable fat couldn't have hip-up surgery. The introduction of VASER2 (Vaser-Assisted Liposuction) changed that — while it still doesn't work for very lean individuals, those with limited fat can now be candidates. VASER2 uses ultrasound to liquefy fat for easier extraction, achieving fat removal at deeper layers while simultaneously providing a lifting effect. It addresses the concerns of patients who previously couldn't have surgery due to limited fat or reduced skin elasticity requiring separate lifting. The posterior line hip-up surgery utilizes optimized devices including HarvestJet2, SmartLipo TPX, and VASER2 to maximize results.

Q. How can the effectiveness of buttock fat grafting be improved?

A. Adding supportive factors such as PRP (platelet-rich plasma) and stem cells to assist engraftment leads to better outcomes.

Q. Any final advice?

A. Hip-up surgery using fat is performed far less frequently than implant-based surgery, and while it is gaining popularity, there are many inexperienced practitioners. Verify that the surgeon has been performing fat grafting for many years and has extensive accumulated expertise before making your decision through thorough consultation.

(Dr. Kim Hyun-soo, ReYeonK Clinic Apgujeong)