Rib Removal Surgery

Q: Dr. Eppley, The rib removal surgery has me interested and I would really like to ask some questions. Is it possible for the waistline to become very indented after rib removal surgery and by many centimetres? For example, would a person with a straight, rectangular waistline/torso be able to have a more curvier waistline after the procedure and by how much centimetres or to what degree?

A: The waistline after rib removal surgery will be come more inward or indented after surgery, that is the goal of the surgery. Whether it will become ‘very’ indented or more modestly so is an individual result based on how much the ribs, latissimus dorsi muscle and fat influence the waistline shape. This is what I also always of a wedge removal of the latissimus dorsi muscle with each rib removal surgery as well as liposuction of the flanks if indicated.

I can not and do not put numerical amounts of change on the waistline reduction as there is no way to make an accurate prediction in that regard. But based on the framework of your question, I suspect that the degree of waistline reduction you are seeking (‘very indented’) is not a realistic goal with any waistline reduction procedure.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana