Can The Ribs # 7 to #10 Be Reduced From Front to Back?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’m wondering if you are able to reduce the width of my hard upper ribs? Particularly the 10-7. Would shortening those through bone cuts be adequate in not just narrowing the sides but also reducing front to back width? Are you able to reduce the width of the from to back? I am particularly concerned about the bulkiness of my rib cage when see from the side.

I’m quite happy with my waist line. For me it’s primarily the bulkiness of my upper body I am quite self conscious about.

The flair of my ribs is really upsetting me.

A:Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. When it comes to the side profile view of your chest there are two issues which are related but would be treated differently. The first is that you have a modest amount of subcostal flare which is due to the cartilaginous shape of ribs 8 and 9 which is reduced by removal of the anterior part of rib #9 and shaving of the prominent part of rib #8.

But I don’t think that is your major concern which appears to be the distance from the front to the back of the rib cage as illustrated in the attached picture. You have correctly surmised that removing sections of Rib 8, 9  and 10 and plating them back together on each side does reduce the front to back distance. The only question is how much and whether the reduction gained is worth the surgical effort.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon