Rib Removal Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have some questions about rib removal surgery: 

1. Is the surgery life threatening?

2. Is the surgery considered major surgery?

3. Once the ribs are removed, what negative aspect does that subject your body to, if any?

4. What is the procedure as far as surgery, hospital stay, aftercare, and recovery time?

5. Is the surgery performed in a hospital or the doctor’s clinic?

6. What is the price of the surgery? Does that include aftercare?

7. Are there any additional costs and what would they be and if applicable what would they be

8. How many rib removal surgeries has the doctor performed?

9. Looking at the before and after photos I provided, does the doctor feel he can achieve the result provided in the after photos with the rib removal surgery?

A: In answer to your questions about rib removal surgery:

  1. The surgery is most definitely not life threatening.
  2. It depends on how you define major surgery. Compared to surgeries like breast augmentation it would be considered major. But compare to surgeries tummy tuck and BBL surgery, it would be considered less severe.
  3. I am not aware of any negative aspect of rib removals other than the fine line scars it takes to do perform the procedure.
  4. This is done in a private surgery center under general anesthesia as an overnite stay.
  5. It is done in neither a hospital or a clinic but in a surgery center.
  6. My assistant will pass along the cost of the surgery to you tomorrow. Whether you need any aftercare or not depends on whether you are traveling along or with someone.
  7. The surgical quote will be all inclusive of the surgical experience.
  8. I have removed hundreds of ribs for a variety of body contouring and recostructive surgeries.
  9. I do not think the result you are showing is realistic unless you do a lot of additional waist training after the surgery. By itself it can produce about half of your imaged result.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana