Rib Removal Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve been looking up videos and articles about your most well known rib removal surgery patient just for entertainment. It must get frustrating having to deal with so much misunderstanding and arrogance among people who couldn’t perform such a difficult procedure, and knowing there’s many doctors who do it privately. I just wanted to thank you again for making my life a little easier by not having to worry about corset training. I know I’m still in the recovery stage but I’m usually in a recovery stage these past few years. I have a general question, how often do you do rib removals a year?

A: There is no question that there remains a lot of ‘mystery’ and misconceptions about rib removal surgery, particularly amongst surgeons who often view it as dangerous and ill advised. (of course they have never actually done the operation or ever taken even a single rib for any purpose) Having done it many times over the years I have a unique perspective on it and its outcome and value to patients. In each and every case I have done, patients have had satisfactory outcomes and no complications. That is all the vindication that I need that the surgery is both safe and effective in the properly selected patient.

What used to be a procedure that was done once or twice a year is becoming a procedure that I now do about once a month. As the public becomes more aware of it and the procedure comes out of ‘hiding’, more patients are interested in having it done.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana