Have You Seen Long Term Complications From Iliac Crest Reduction?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I would like to understand if I’m a suitable candidate for iliac crest reduction. I’m a tall male and have always had wide hips relative to my ribcage. The height and width of my hip bone cause a feminine curvature to my torso, where I’d like the shape from my waist to my legs to be a smooth line as is typical for males. Please view the attached pictures for the front and back view. I would appreciate it if you could provide me a quote for the approximate cost of this procedure and an estimate of how common the long-term complications are, understanding that this appears to be a quite rare operation. 

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. I can certainly appreciate your issue with a wider/more flared pelvic wing. I think you are a good candidate for iliac crest reduction and I have attached an image as to what I think can be accomplished. It is always a question of how much of the iliac crest can be reduced but at the minimum but it is usually 1 to 1/2 half cm per side which should be enough to create the image prediction. Today I have seen no short or long-term complications from the iliac crest reduction procedure other then there is some short term in the first few weeks of walking discomfort but that quickly recovers.

Dr. Barry Eppley