Rib‑remodelling surgery gains attention as a new cosmetic option for a narrower waist

Daniela Cesin, a 31‑year‑old sales director who grew up in Venezuela and now lives in Miami, travelled to her home country in August to undergo a cosmetic rib‑remodelling operation after a planned fat‑transfer was cancelled. The surgery, marketed as RibXcar, involved creating green‑stick fractures in three lower ribs on each side and fitting a corset that must be worn for up to 23 hours a day for three months to reshape the rib cage.

Cesin described the postoperative period as painful, noting difficulty standing, lying down and sleeping, as well as acid‑reflux symptoms caused by the corset. Six weeks after the procedure she reported an eight‑centimetre reduction in waist circumference, which she described as satisfactory despite the discomfort.

The technique originated with Russian plastic surgeon Kazbek Kudzaev in 2017, who used a drill to fracture ribs and then immobilised them with a corset. Since then, surgeons in Colombia, Korea and France have adapted the method, which is now performed as a day‑case under general anaesthesia and advertised as a less invasive alternative to rib‑removal surgeries that expose internal organs.

Medical professionals have highlighted significant risks, including standard surgical complications such as anaesthetic reactions, blood clots, wound infection and seroma formation, as well as specific dangers like pneumothorax (collapsed lung) and haemothorax (blood accumulation around the lung). Consultant plastic surgeon Sandip Hindocha of the Private Clinic on Harley Street in London expressed scepticism, questioning the motivations behind seeking a permanent alteration of the rib cage.

While a small but growing number of women are opting for rib‑remodelling to achieve an hourglass silhouette, the procedure remains controversial. Critics argue that the potential for serious, life‑threatening complications outweighs the aesthetic benefits, and call for clearer regulatory guidance and patient education.