In the late ’80s, a tabloidsuggestedthat Cher had undergone a risky rib removal surgery to narrow her waistline.
The icon, fresh off her Oscar-winning role inMoonstruck,denied the allegation.
This doctor wasnt pitching me as a purveyor of the procedure, angling for press.
Illustration by Ingrid Fowler; Source images: Getty Images
Still, I wondered, is this merely a fringe phenomenon or are we witnessing its normalization?
He suggested that rib remodeling may be on the rise.
In fact, hed just filmed one such operation for a client toshare on social.
His review: Even the nurses were looking away.
Three years ago, Colombian surgeons started offering it as the Barbie waist.
The goal here is tocarve out curvesin an entirely new way.
No amount ofliposuctionwill change the framework of the body; lipo reveals the bodys innate shape underneath.
In his experience, lifestyle modifications and tried-and-true body contouring procedures, likelipo, are usually sufficient.
(Im not suggesting that these ladies had surgery, mind you.
Curves at award shows often come courtesy of couture.)
(Hes done only a few cases so far.)
In Northern California, patients are more on the conservative side, he says.
The idea of remodeling the ribs is kind of scary to a lot of them.
A few hundred miles south, however, patients seem decidedly less daunted.
He started performing the procedure in 2024 and currently averages seven rib surgeries a month.
Theyre surprised to hear theres a newer, safer alternative to give them that narrower look to the waistline.
And that makes some surgeons very wary.
Over time, weve innovated safer techniques, says Dr. Hadeed.
But theres very little on rib modification surgeries in aesthetic journals before 2020.
Its just over the last five years that theres been a smattering of studies aiming to legitimize the procedures.
Rib remodeling is entering a heyday, but there is real risk.
The author treated 104 women over eight years; two suffered a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) during surgery.
Rib removal can also have respiratory ramifications.
Rib remodeling shaved five inches off her waistline.
I feel more feminine and genuinely more aligned with how Ive always envisioned myself, she says.
Knowing that rib remodeling is still a relatively new procedure, Numi did her due diligence before committing.
Ultimately, she felt confident in the safety of the operation.
Choosing a qualified doctor made all the difference, she says.
I looked into it three years ago when Colombian surgeons started offering it as the Barbiewaist.
And while one procedure may be more socially acceptable than another, none is without risk.
Whos a candidate for rib remodeling?
Dr. Turin says that over the past few months hes performed about seven rib remodeling procedures.
Its not right for everyone, Dr. Sieber says of the controversial procedure.
But without physically removing ribs, how exactly is this possible?
To be clear, rib remodeling does not alter the vertical positioning of the ribs, Dr. Hadeed adds.
The ribs are not shifting up or clearing out.
Reasonable expectations are another prerequisite for rib remodeling, according to the experts I interviewed.
What happens during rib remodeling surgery?
The ribs that are typically targeted in aesthetic rib surgery are the lowest two or three on each side.
The surgeons I interviewed say that imaging is a critical part of rib remodeling.
I dont think you might safely do the procedure without ultrasound, adds Dr. Turin.
Surgeons make partial cuts through the ribs, like snapping a branch on a young tree.
The exact size of the incisions depends on the punch in of tool they use to fracture the bones.
Inserting the piezotome requires only large needle pokes in the skin.
Each is about one centimeter long and placed in the natural crease lines of the back.
Puncturing it or the lungs could cause a pneumothorax.)
Surgeons make partial cuts through the ribs resulting in incomplete fractures.
Dr. Turin likens the process to snapping a branch on a young tree thats still very supple and green.
Ribs being reshaped meet a similar fate.
Whats the recovery like?
The steel-boned corset is an integral part of the recovery process.
And a huge part of that is wearing the corset, says Dr. Hadeed.
Deviating from the protocol increases the risk of the ribs shifting back to their original position or healing asymmetrically.
The corset not only stabilizes the ribs to aid healing, it lessens discomfort.
Says Dr. Turin, Having the corset as tight as possible is going to keep pain at a minimum.
Doctors routinely prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatories to ease the early recovery.
How I moved, ate, dressed, and slept had to shift to accommodate the healing process.
If its even slightly off, it can cause extra discomfort and affect how your ribs heal and set.
Finding a quality corset that fits precisely can take some trial and error.
I went through at least four different brands and styles trying to find the right one, she says.
The corset is a functional tool that acts like a cast for your ribs, so its absolutely critical.
Bottom line: Is rib remodeling safe?
It raises an interesting moral questionshould plastic surgeons do whatever a patient wants?
Is this any different than giant breast implants or overinflated lips?
The rib cage does play a role in respiration by providing space for the lungs to fully expand.
Dr. Turin likens the effect to inhaling deeply while wearing a corset orSpanx.
It can be done, but its a bit harder than breathing unrestricted, he says.
These things need to be known, he says.
Presently, however, such testing isnt standard practice.
Overall, data is lacking.
They recorded no significant changes in lung function six months after surgery.
There may come a time in the not-so-distant future when this is just another procedure that we do.
While Dr. Rubinstein has concerns about rib remodeling, he doesn’t dismiss the procedure out of hand.
Is this any different than giantbreast implantsor overinflated lips?
But then theres this question: Who defines ludicrous?
I am one who thinks its a long run for a short slide.
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