A social media personality has confessed that her ribs were fractured during an operation designed to make her waist smaller, and a doctor who performs such procedures is cautioning that the online fad comes with real dangers.
The 23-year-old traveled to Bali for the “Barbie waist” procedure, which alters the lower ribs to create a dramatically cinched shape. She later told A Current Affair, “They literally break your ribs.”
She has stayed unrepentant despite the intense pushback her admission has drawn. Her reasoning is straightforward: even negative attention keeps people talking about her.
What The Procedure Actually Does
A board-certified plastic surgeon speaking to Bored Panda explained that the procedure isn’t just about breaking the ribs. Instead, there are several surgical methods used to change the shape of the ribs in order to create a more defined waistline.
“In some techniques, surgeons deliberately weaken the lower ribs with a controlled cut or partial fracture, then reposition them at a different angle to alter the waist shape,” the surgeon explained. “Other procedures may involve removing a portion of the lower ribs.”
The surgeon contrasted those methods with more familiar body-contouring operations. “Liposuction and abdominoplasty primarily address fat, skin, and abdominal tissue; they do not alter the ribs,” he said. “Rib remodeling, however, changes the underlying skeletal structure itself.”
Risks That Go Beyond Appearance
Because the ribs sit near the lungs, nerves, and blood vessels, changing their arrangement can lead to problems that extend far beyond the finished look of the waist.
Bleeding, infection, and significant pain are among the potential problems a surgeon warns about, along with changes in feeling caused by nerve irritation. The most serious concern involves the lungs.
“If a lung is injured during the procedure, air can enter the chest cavity and cause a pneumothorax, commonly known as a collapsed lung,” he said. Bleeding around the lung is another possible complication, and both problems can require urgent medical treatment.
Problems with the nerves around the ribs can produce symptoms too. Irritation or damage to these nerves may result in altered sensation or lasting pain, and issues with bone healing can impact both comfort and the final look of the area.
“Bone-healing problems can cause persistent pain or instability and may also affect the final contour,” the surgeon says. “In some cases, further treatment may be required.”
Recovery Is Not Over Once The Surgery Ends
Because the ribs move with every breath, cough, laugh, twist or getting out of bed, pain in this area can disrupt even the most ordinary movements.
“There can also be tenderness and sensitivity around the treated ribs,” the surgeon adds. How long that discomfort lasts can vary considerably depending on the technique used and how extensive the procedure is.
There’s no fixed schedule for how quickly anyone recovers, though the early weeks tend to be the hardest.
More than 10 weeks passed before the influencer’s ribs had healed sufficiently for her to stop wearing the corset-style waist trainer she used to help hold her new shape. The procedure formed part of an influencer trip run by Bali-based company Snatched Waist.
Key Facts From The Report
- Age of the influencer: 23
- Procedure type: “Barbie waist” rib contouring
- Location: Bali
- Recovery corset: More than 10 weeks
- Company organizing the trip: Bali-based Snatched Waist
| Procedure | What It Alters | What It Doesn’t Alter |
|---|---|---|
| Rib contouring | Lower ribs | Fat, skin, abdominal tissue |
| Liposuction | Fat | Rib structure |
| Abdominoplasty | Skin, abdominal tissue | Rib structure |
Whether such an invasive operation should be promoted as a means of attaining an extreme beauty ideal is at the heart of the dispute, and the influencer’s plain admission has done nothing to cool it down.
Takeaways From The Surgeon’s Warning
- The procedure involves weakening or removing lower ribs, not simply breaking them.
- Risks include bleeding, infection, nerve damage, and persistent pain.
- Discomfort varies by technique and extent.
- Surgeons urge patients to understand exactly what is being done before consenting.
A cosmetic trend has spread online, turning extreme waist proportions into something that looks ordinary to viewers, even though the dangers involved remain serious.
Source material: “Influencer Gives Details On Bone-Breaking Plastic Surgery As Doctor Issues Urgent Warning,” Bored Panda.
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