Are My Waistline Narrowing Goals Achievable With Rib Removal Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have some questions about rib removal surgery and hip implants which are as follows:

Do you think the below change is achievable? (See photos, i would like the area circled in red reduced, not below)

Is there a risk of hitting any organs or key arteries?

Other than bleeding and infection, are there any other risks?

How long after until can work out my upper body and abs?

Would you combine rib removal with any liposuction ?

Hip implants – I have almost no fat on my hip dips – might the implants show through? Might hip implants interfere with my buttock implants? (I intend to augment the buttock implants in 9 months)

How common is hip implant migration?

How soon after rib & hip combined can I fly home?

Cost of rib removal alone, and rib + hip implants?

Thank you!

A: Thank you for sending your rib removal and hip implant questions:

1) I believe the result for rib removal surgery you have shown is exactly what can be accomplished. If I had to image it myself that is exactly what I would have shown.

2) There is no risk of hitting any organs or major arteries. They are nonsuch structures in the path of dissection, Rib removal surgery remains a highly misunderstood surgery.

3) I have never seen any complications from rib removal surgery, including infection and bleeding. Despite how the procedure seems to the uninformed, it is a very low risk surgery.

4) When you return to working out after rib removal or hip implants is going to be in the 3 to 4 week range…and this is more to prevent seroma formation from the hip implants and has nothing really to do with rib removal.

5) Many rib removals do also consist of flank liposuction since one is in the prone position for the surgery and this is a very advantageous position for maximizing flank liposuction.

6) The key to not showing edges in hip implants is a custom design so that hey have very feathered edging. If you just use standard buttock implants for the hips (as some surgeons do) you will see the outline of the implants in thin patients.

7) The pocket locations for hip and buttock implants are quite different and do not overlap or interfere with each other.

8) I have never seen hip implant migration. This is probable because of their custom design and the use of perfusion holes in them…design features which mitigate against that potential issue.

9) Returning home after these combined surgeries is merely a matter of comfort as well as whether you are by yourself or coming alone. But one average it would be 5 to 7 days after surgery.

10) My assistant Camille will pass along the cost of the surgery to you later today.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana