Used interchangeably, the terms rib contouring, rib repositioning, and rib remodeling all refer to a procedure that moves the floating ribs at the bottom of your rib cage inward. Doing so significantly narrows the waistline, allowing you to achieve the frustratingly elusive but desirable hourglass figure. While lipo 360 and tummy tucks are helpful, rib remodeling can cinch your waist more than these procedures.
At Mia Aesthetics, we call rib contouring the Mia Waist Corset™ and offer it as an add-on procedure to lipo 360, BBL, and tummy tuck surgeries.
We want to be clear about what rib remodeling is and what it isn’t. Rib remodeling moves the lower ribs inward but does not remove them. Rib removal, as its name suggests, literally takes your floating ribs out of your body.
Rib contouring is offered at Mia Aesthetics as an add-on to lipo 360, BBL, and tummy tuck surgeries. We do not perform it as a standalone procedure.
Removal and remodeling produce very similar results, but removal is riskier. All surgical procedures come with risks, of course, but rib removal is more likely to create chest wall instability and reduce the amount of protection your ribs afford to your internal organs.
Rib contouring provides excellent results and a lower risk of complications than removal, and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons considers rib remodeling to be much safer. Because of this, Mia Aesthetics does not offer or recommend rib removal.
This table summarizes the key differences between the two procedures.
| Rib Repositioning | Rib Removal | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Reshapes and repositions the lower ribs inward | Surgically removes part or all of selected lower ribs |
| Are ribs removed? | No. The ribs remain in the body | Yes. Portions or, in some techniques, most of selected ribs are removed |
| Typical ribs treated | Usually lower ribs, commonly ribs 10–12 depending on technique and anatomy | Usually the floating ribs (11 and 12), although techniques vary |
| How it’s performed | Controlled cuts or incomplete fractures allow the ribs to be bent into a narrower position | The surgeon separates and removes the planned portion of rib through surgical incisions |
| Main goal | Narrow the lower rib cage and create greater waist definition while preserving the ribs | Reduce lower rib-cage width and prominence by physically removing rib tissue |
| Incisions | Can often be performed through relatively small incisions | Generally requires sufficient access to safely expose and remove the rib; size varies by technique |
| Postoperative corset | Critical. Worn nearly continuously for several months to maintain the new position while the ribs heal | Compression may be prescribed, but it doesn’t serve the same role of holding remodeled fractures in position |
| Effect on rib structure | Preserves the rib while permanently altering its shape and position | Permanently removes some of the skeletal structure |
| Key differences | Reshapes the ribs without removing them | Removes the ribs |
Rib contouring produces a dramatic effect, and it does so almost instantaneously. Your body needs time to heal and the post-op swelling time to go down, of course, but moving the ribs creates an immediate and impactful change. The results you see when you wake up after surgery are by no means final, but you will see a smaller waist right away.
In addition to dramatic results, the benefits of rib repositioning include:
A tummy tuck, BBL, or lipo 360 procedure can all go a long way toward getting you the snatched waist you want — but they may not go far enough. These procedures repair muscle damage (diastasis recti), remove excess fat, and take away loose skin, but they don’t affect underlying bone structure. In some people, the ribs flare outward rather than aligning neatly above the hips. This can make the upper stomach appear a bit poofy and disrupt the contour between the chest, waist, and hips. Rib remodeling changes the underlying structure for a bigger impact than other body contouring procedures.
This makes patients with rib flare good candidates for rib restructuring. You may also be a good candidate if you are:
Rib repositioning generally affects ribs 11 and 12, although we do sometimes move rib 10 if necessary. Located at the bottom of your ribcage, ribs 11 and 12 are called your floating ribs because they attach to your thoracic (chest) vertebrae at your back but are not connected to your sternum (breastbone) in the front. Rib contouring is done as an outpatient procedure and is an optional addition to lipo 360, tummy tucks, and BBLs at Mia Aesthetics. We do not perform the procedure as a standalone surgery.
The first thing that happens during your procedure is that we use general anesthesia so that you drift off to sleep and remain blissfully unaware while your plastic surgeon works. Once you’re settled in, we use an ultrasound to target the precise location of your floating ribs. This allows us to make very small incisions on your back, giving your surgeon access to exactly where they need to be. Incisions are usually only 1 to 2 centimeters long, but they can be longer.
After the surgeon gains access to your ribs, they will, in surgical terms, use a piezotome to create a controlled monocortical fracture and then create a greenstick fracture. Here’s what that means in plain English: A piezotome is a machine that uses high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations to precisely cut through bone. We use it to create a monocortical fracture in the rib, which means we cut through the outer cortex, or shell, of the bone. We do not completely fracture the rib.
After making this cut, your plastic surgeon will reposition the rib, thereby creating a greenstick fracture. A greenstick fracture occurs when a bone is fractured on one side and then bends rather than breaking apart. The name greenstick is derived from the bone flexing like a green twig on a plant rather than breaking.
When your ribs have been repositioned, your plastic surgeon sutures your incisions closed and places you in a corset. This corset is absolutely imperative for a good surgical outcome, and you will be instructed to wear it 24/7 for several months. There are no internal sutures or structures inside your body after your rib remodeling. The corset holds the ribs in their new position as they heal. The corset is more than just a compression garment like those often worn after plastic surgery to reduce swelling. In this case, the corset acts like a splint or cast.
When performed by a qualified plastic surgeon, the risks of rib repositioning are quite low — especially when compared to rib removal. Still, no surgery is without risk, and it’s important to understand the potential complications. Risks of rib remodeling include:
At Mia Aesthetics, we take patient safety seriously. We do everything we can to minimize surgical risks, but we can never reduce the possibility of risk to zero. Surgery just doesn’t work that way. We can’t promise risk-free surgery (no one can), but we can promise that you’re in good hands and that your safety is always our number one concern.
You won’t be doing much the first week after surgery except taking short walks to keep your circulation going. Most patients can resume light activity and return to desk jobs in a week or two, but you’ll need more time if your job is physical. Your days will be back to normal in six to eight weeks, but exercise will have to wait about three months.
You will absolutely need to wear a corset for two to three months after surgery, and possibly longer depending on how you’re healing. The corset is the only thing holding your ribs in their new position as they heal, so don’t stop wearing the garment early. Doing so will compromise your surgical results.
If you’ve ever broken a rib, you already know. For those who haven’t, here’s the scoop. You will be bruised and sore after rib remodeling, with most patients describing the sensation as a deep soreness. If you breathe very deeply, cough, sneeze, or twist your torso, however, you may get a sharp and painful reminder that you just had surgery.
Everyone’s pain tolerance is different, but many patients feel that the discomfort in their ribs is comparable to that of their lipo 360, BBL, or tummy tuck. You won’t be left on your own, however. Your plastic surgeon will prescribe pain medication to help keep you comfortable. Please don’t drive until you are cleared to do so and have not taken any narcotic pain medication for at least 24 hours.
Performed as an add-on to lipo 360, BBL, and tummy tuck procedures, rib remodeling usually extends surgery by about 30 to 60 minutes.
Rib repositioning should not affect your breathing or alter the protective function of your ribs. Because no ribs are removed during this procedure, the risk of complications is low. Pneumothorax is a possible complication, however, albeit rare. When recognized and repaired promptly, pneumothorax typically resolves without a lasting negative impact on breathing.
The incisions for rib repositioning are minimal and typically hidden within the same incisions made for the primary procedure, like lipo 360 or a tummy tuck. When this isn’t possible or practical, rib contouring leaves small scars on the back. But visible scars are not necessarily noticeable scars. Plastic surgeons make every effort to tuck scars into natural body creases and make them as discreet as possible. Scars from this procedure are minimal and will fade over time.
You’ll notice an immediate improvement in your waistline contour after surgery, but the final results will become more visible as swelling subsides. Most patients see significant results within four to six weeks, with continued refinement over the next few months as the body fully heals and the last of the swelling subsides.
The Mia Waist Corset™ add-on starts at $5,500. Your individual needs can impact the price, however, so we are happy to provide a free virtual consultation and give you a more specific quote. When comparing prices, remember that we always give you the all-in price, which includes anesthesia, surgical fees, and other expenses. Many clinics quote only the price of the surgery itself and tack on these other fees later.
Yes and no. The rib repositioning is permanent. Once fully healed, your ribs won’t snap back into their original position, making this a permanent rib flare solution. But your visible waistline can still change as you gain or lose weight and fat in the waist, flanks, and abdomen.