The rectangular body type is a physical structure in which the shoulder, waist, and hip widths extend almost parallel to each other, there is no pronounced waist indentation, and the silhouette forms a straight line from top to bottom. In medical literature and aesthetic analyses, this morphology is often classified as the “H-type” or “banana-type” body. In this structure, the curves that create feminine contours are quite subtle. Independent of thinness or weight, this appearance is shaped entirely by the skeletal framework and genetically determined fat distribution. Due to the proportional closeness between the rib cage and the pelvis, no matter how much weight a person loses, the desired “hourglass” form does not naturally occur.

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What Is the Rectangular Body Type and How Is It Defined?

To describe the rectangular body type in its simplest form, it refers to a silhouette in which the shoulders, waist, and hips are almost aligned on the same level. In the idealized classic hourglass form, the waist is distinctly narrow and the hips curve outward. However, in the rectangular structure, these transitions are quite subtle. When you look at your body from the front, the line that runs from the armpit down to the end of the hips is devoid of indentations and protrusions.

Individuals with this body type generally have an athletic appearance. However, this athleticism can sometimes make a person look broader or more angular than they actually are. For example, you may complain that your waist looks thick despite being slim. The reason for this is not fat accumulation, but the short distance between the width of your rib cage and the narrowness of your pelvic bone. When the ribs and pelvis are aligned vertically on the same plane, there is no anatomical space left for the waist to curve inward. Therefore, it is much more accurate to consider this body type not simply as a “straight waist,” but as a skeletal structure condition involving the entire torso.

How Can You Tell If You Have a Rectangular Body Type?

To analyze your own body type, you do not always need to take complex measurements with a measuring tape. Certain visual signals given by your body and the way clothes fit on you can provide clear clues about your morphological structure. Especially if you observe the following characteristics in yourself, it is highly likely that you fall into this category.

The main indicators pointing to a rectangular body type are:

Equal shoulder and hip width
Lack of a pronounced waist indentation
A straight-descending torso line
Non-curvy hip structure
A flat buttock appearance
Weight gain concentrated around the abdomen
Thin legs and arms
A wide rib cage structure

If you have these characteristics, you may also experience similar difficulties when choosing clothes. For example, when you wear elastic-waist or belted dresses, you may notice that instead of your waist appearing slimmer, only the fabric bunches up. Or you may feel that low-rise pants fit you more comfortably than high-waisted ones. This is because high-waisted pieces try to emphasize the waist, but when there is no curve to emphasize, these garments can create a visually “cut” appearance. Such experiences are among the strongest practical proofs that your body type is rectangular.

What Role Does Genetics Play in the Formation of the Rectangular Body Type?

Our body shape is a physical reflection of the genetic heritage we inherit from our parents—that is, our DNA codes. The underlying reason behind complaints such as “I gain weight even if I drink water” or “No matter what I do, my waist doesn’t get slimmer” is actually this genetic architecture. When you look at other women in your family and see similar straight lines, you can understand that this is not a coincidence. Genetic factors determine the width of your skeletal frame, the length of your muscles, and most importantly, where fat cells are stored in your body.

Hormonal balance also accompanies this genetic picture. Estrogen, known as the female hormone, normally encourages fat tissue to accumulate in the hips and thigh area, supporting that curvy “pear” or “hourglass” appearance. However, in individuals genetically predisposed to a rectangular form, the body may exhibit a more androgenic, or male-type, fat distribution pattern. In this case, fat cells stubbornly tend to accumulate around the waist, the back area, and the front abdominal wall. Moreover, increases in stress hormone cortisol levels or metabolic conditions such as insulin resistance can further increase fat accumulation in this “love handle” region, causing the already minimal waist curve to disappear completely. Therefore, the rectangular body type is not merely a matter of aesthetic preference, but also the result of a metabolic and genetic foundation.

Can the Rectangular Body Type Be Changed With Exercise and Diet?

This is the question my patients ask most frequently in the clinic and are perhaps most curious about. I often encounter many people who ask, “Doctor, I work out like crazy and pay close attention to my diet, but I just can’t achieve that slim waist—what am I doing wrong?” Here, we must be honest and realistic. Exercise and diet can change your body composition, reduce your fat percentage, and make you a healthier person; however, they cannot change your skeletal structure.

If your pelvic bone is narrow and your rib cage is wide, no matter how strict a diet you follow, you cannot achieve a waist slimness beyond the limits allowed by your bones. On the contrary, extreme weight loss can sometimes make the rectangular appearance even more pronounced. This is because when you lose weight, you lose fat not only from your waist, but also from your hips and breasts. This turns you from a “large rectangle” into a “small rectangle,” but it does not transform your form into a curvy one.

In fact, unconsciously performed abdominal exercises can sometimes make the situation even more difficult. Especially movements that excessively work the side abdominal muscles, known as the “obliques,” can cause these muscles to hypertrophy and widen the waist laterally. This can make your waist look visually thicker and more blocky rather than slimmer. Of course, exercise is indispensable for a firm body and healthy posture; however, on its own, it is not sufficient to transform a rectangular body into an hourglass with pronounced curves.

Which Approaches Are Applied in Aesthetic Surgery for the Rectangular Body Type?

Modern aesthetic surgery no longer views body contouring merely as “removing fat” or “tightening.” As surgeons, we approach this process as a three-dimensional sculpting art. In the rectangular body type, our main strategy is to play with proportions. To change the silhouette perceived by the eye, we create a new balance point by slimming the waist while simultaneously adding volume to the hips and thighs.

The main surgical methods we use in this transformation process are:

Vaser Liposuction
Laser Liposuction
Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
Fat Injection
Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
Mini Tummy Tuck

These procedures are often not applied individually, but rather as “combined surgical” procedures. In other words, during the same surgical session, fat is removed from the waist and transferred to the hips. This allows us to achieve a sophisticated result known as “High Definition” body contouring, in which muscle lines and curves are revealed through light and shadow effects.

How Is the Rectangular Body Type Shaped With the 360-Degree Liposuction Method?

The secret to slimming a rectangular torso lies not in focusing solely on the front abdominal wall, but in addressing the torso as a whole. The term “360-Degree Liposuction” comes exactly from this concept; it is a contouring procedure that surrounds the front, sides, and back of the body. Removing only the fat around the navel can give you a flatter abdomen, but it will not give you a slimmer waist. To create a waist curve, it is essential to intervene in the sides and the back.

In this procedure, the lateral waist areas (love handles) and the regions below the bra line on the back are particularly targeted. The fat tissue in these areas is liquefied using Vaser (ultrasonic sound wave) technology and removed with very fine cannulas. The greatest advantage of Vaser technology here is that it targets only fat cells and does not damage vascular and nerve structures. In this way, we virtually sculpt beneath the skin, achieving aggressive narrowing at the point where the waist should be narrowest.

Our work on the back area is just as important as the front. When the fat pads on the sides of the back and above the tailbone are removed, buttock projection automatically becomes more pronounced. In addition, the lumbar hollow deepens, so that when viewed from behind, that “hourglass” effect is clearly visible. With this technique, we aim to reach the maximum narrowness allowed by the patient’s anatomy and to free the torso from a cylindrical form, bringing it closer to an hourglass shape.

Why Are BBL and Fat Transfer Procedures Critical for the Rectangular Body Type?

We have slimmed the waist—but what comes next? One of the biggest handicaps of the rectangular body type is that hip width is insufficient compared to the shoulders and waist. No matter how much we slim the waist, if the hip line descends straight, it is difficult to achieve that dramatic and feminine curve. This is where the valuable fat we have taken from your own body comes into play. We never see the fat collected by liposuction as waste; it is the most natural filler material your own body can provide.

In the “Brazilian Butt Lift” (BBL), or more generally fat transfer procedure, we re-inject this purified fat into strategic points. In the rectangular body type, the hollow areas on the sides of the hips, known as “hip dips,” are particularly targeted. When these voids are filled and volume is added to the highest point of the buttocks, the hips appear visually wider.

This widening creates a complete optical illusion: because your hips are wider, your waist appears much slimmer than it actually is. In other words, even if mathematically only 5 cm is reduced from your waist circumference, the outward curve of the hips can make your waist appear as if it has slimmed by 10–15 cm. This procedure softens lines that may be perceived as flat and masculine, adds depth to the body, and completely changes the profile view. Moreover, since the material used is your own tissue, there is no risk of allergy, and it feels completely natural to the touch.

In Which Situations Is a Tummy Tuck Necessary for the Rectangular Body Type?

The problem is not always just excess fat. Sometimes the structure of the abdominal wall and the quality of the skin are also the main reasons for the rectangular appearance. Especially in women who have given birth or individuals who have experienced significant weight fluctuations, loosening and separation of the abdominal muscles (diastasis recti) may occur. When these muscles that hold the intra-abdominal pressure weaken, internal organs push outward, making the waist appear thick and the abdomen protruded. In this case, performing liposuction alone does nothing more than create an empty skin bag.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is the most effective solution to repair this structural deterioration. You can think of this surgery as sewing an “internal corset.” As surgeons, we tighten the loosened abdominal muscles by suturing them together along the midline. This physically narrows the waist diameter and tightens the torso. When we simultaneously remove excess sagging skin, the result is a completely flat, taut, and athletic abdomen.

The most suitable candidates for tummy tuck surgery are:

Those who have had multiple pregnancies
Individuals who have lost a large amount of weight in a short time
Those with stretch marks and sagging in the abdominal skin
Individuals with separation of the abdominal muscles
Those with poor skin elasticity
Patients who have undergone obesity surgery

In these patients, combining liposuction with a tummy tuck is the gold standard for revealing the waist curve. Internal intervention through muscle repair and external intervention through liposuction together ensure that the rectangular form is completely broken.

How Does the Recovery Process Progress After Rectangular Body Type Operations?

After such a comprehensive transformation, the body needs time to recover. Expecting a miraculous appearance immediately after surgery is not realistic. In the first days, experiencing significant edema, swelling, and bruising is completely normal. The body responds to the surgical trauma by retaining fluid. During this period, feeling bloated and tense and having limited mobility is to be expected. However, thanks to modern techniques and pain management protocols, our patients are usually able to get up and take short walks within a few days.

The success of the recovery process depends not only on the surgeon’s skill, but also on how strictly the patient follows postoperative rules. Especially the first 6 weeks are the “golden period.” During this time, the regular use of shaping compression garments is vital for achieving a smooth result. If fat transfer to the buttocks (BBL) has been performed, the fat cells must be protected from pressure to remain viable.

Some important points to pay attention to during the recovery period are:

Use of medical compression garments
Lymphatic drainage massages
Adequate water intake
A low-sodium diet
Special sitting cushions
Prone sleeping position
Cessation of smoking
Avoiding heavy lifting

It may take 6 months, or sometimes even up to 1 year, for the swelling to completely subside and for the body to take its final shape. This is a journey of patience. Seeing your reflection gradually become clearer each week, your waist becoming slimmer, and your contours settling is the greatest reward of this process.

Dr. Erman Ak

Op. Dr. Erman Ak is an internationally experienced specialist known for facial, breast, and body contouring surgeries in the field of aesthetic surgery. With his natural result–oriented surgical philosophy, modern techniques, and artistic vision, he is among the leading names in aesthetic surgery in Türkiye. A graduate of Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Ak completed his residency at the Istanbul University Çapa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery.
During his training, he received advanced microsurgery education from Prof. Dr. Fu Chan Wei at the Taiwan Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and was awarded the European Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Qualification by the European Board of Plastic Surgery (EBOPRAS). He also conducted advanced studies on facial and breast aesthetics as an ISAPS fellow at the Villa Bella Clinic (Italy) with Prof. Dr. Giovanni and Chiara Botti.
Op. Dr. Erman Ak approaches aesthetic surgery as a personalized art, tailoring each patient’s treatment according to facial proportions, skin structure, and natural aesthetic harmony. His expertise includes deep-plane face and neck lift, lip lift, buccal fat removal (bichectomy), breast augmentation and lifting, abdominoplasty, liposuction, BBL, and mommy makeover. He currently provides safe, natural, and holistic aesthetic treatments using modern techniques in his private clinic in Istanbul.