Young women spending big on risky rib removal surgery to achieve the dangerous 'Ozempic body' trend

A growing wave of ultra-slim celebrities showing off their so-called Ozempic bodies is pushing some young women toward increasingly dangerous cosmetic procedures including rib removal. One of them is 28-year-old Emily James, who spent $13,750 to have six ribs extracted in her pursuit of what she believed would be the perfect figure.

James expected the surgery to instantly deliver the silhouette she had always wanted. Instead, she found herself trapped in a painful ordeal. After reducing her waist from 32 inches to 24, the Missouri native said she now deeply regrets the operation, which left vital organs more vulnerable and forced her through a grueling seven-month recovery.

Rib removal known medically as rib resection or ant-waist surgery typically targets the 11th and 12th floating ribs, which do not connect to the front of the rib cage. The procedure has existed since the 1970s but has long been considered too risky for most. Today, however, an alternative called rib remodeling, or RibXcar, is giving the concept new life by promising a cinched waist with far less downtime.

Rib remodeling first gained popularity in South America before emerging in the U.S. last year. Surgeons reshape the ribs by softening and partially fracturing them through tiny incisions, then bending them inward to sculpt a narrower torso. Patients must wear a compression corset for 23 hours a day over several months so the ribs heal in their new position.

According to a recent report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the technique is being marketed as a low-risk option for women seeking a sharper waistline. That pitch has attracted patients like 27-year-old New Yorker Shiqi Ma, who paid $10,000 for the treatment ahead of her destination wedding. The procedure reduced her waist from 28 to 25 inches and, she said, gave her a major confidence boost.

Upper East Side plastic surgeon Thomas Sterry, who performed Mas RibXcar, described the operation as scarless and compared it to Invisalign for the waist. Results, he noted, depend heavily on how consistently patients wear their corsets during recovery.

In Chicago, surgeon Dr. Ramsen Azizi reported a surge in demand since he began offering the procedure for $7,500. He said women from their 20s through their 60s inquire about the surgery, often bringing AI-generated reference images for inspiration. Azizi maintains that the final results look more natural than the digitally created ideals.

For others, rib remodeling is part of a broader cosmetic journey. South Florida mother Stevi Dee underwent the procedure as an add-on to her second Brazilian butt lift, shaving two inches off her waist. She said the $5,500 rib contouring helped restore her confidence after childbirth altered her body.

Meanwhile, San Diego content creator Enna Schell, one month into her RibXcar recovery, said she is delighted to finally see the hourglass figure she was never able to achieve despite her athletic frame. She expects the $12,000 operation to remove up to five inches from her midsection once healing is complete.

But mental-health professionals warn that the long-term emotional impact of such drastic interventions is uncertain. NYC psychotherapist Lesley Koeppel cautions that while cosmetic procedures may offer a temporary self-esteem boost, they can also reinforce the idea that personal value depends on physical appearance and cultural trends. True, lasting confidence, she said, comes from internal work not continual surgical alterations.

Analysis: The Rising Trend of Rib Remodeling

The growing popularity of rib removal and rib remodeling procedures highlights a concerning shift in cosmetic surgery trends. While traditional rib resection carries significant medical risks, newer methods like RibXcar are being marketed as safer alternatives, attracting young women seeking extreme body modification with minimal downtime.

Patients report noticeable waist reductions and temporary confidence boosts, but the procedures still require months of post-operative care, including near-constant compression corset use. Surgeons emphasize that results depend heavily on patient compliance and proper healing, meaning outcomes are not guaranteed.

Mental health experts warn that these interventions may reinforce harmful cultural pressures, equating self-worth with body shape. While technology enables more precise body sculpting, the long-term psychological and physical implications remain uncertain. This trend underscores the need for careful patient education and realistic expectations before pursuing extreme cosmetic modifications.

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• Young women are dropping thousands on gruesome rib removal surgery — as dangerous ‘Ozempic body’ trend takes hold