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Dr Tim Neavin
Surgery with Symmetry
Dr Tim Neavin

Rib Removal Surgery in Beverly Hills

While rib removal can achieve an improved body contour, it is not without its downside. For one, the surgery has significant risks. The ribs function to protect the underlying organs, The ribs that are removed during a rib resection for contouring generally do not directly cover and protect the lings. However, they still represent a shield for the body. The main risks of rib removal relate to the surgery itself. Removing ribs places the pleura, the tissue covering the lungs, at risk of injury. In such cases, chest tubes would need to be placed for a period of time and patients may need to be admitted to the hospital for observation.

Another downside to rib removal surgery are the scars which can vary in size, but be up to 4 to 6 cm on each side. The location of scars for rib removal surgery are not easy to conceal.  Thus, patients have to decide whether or not this is a favorable trade-off.

Lastly, there are limitations as to what contours can be achieved by removing the lower ribs. In women (or men) who have flaring lower ribs, the changes from rib resection can be quite dramatic. However, very few patients have this particular body morphology. Most patients who wish to have a rib removal are poor candidates.

More and more, liposuction of the waist with fat transfer to the hips appears to be a superior alternative to rib removal surgery for both contouring and safety.

Below is an example of liposuction of the waist with fat transfer to the hips. The scars related to this procedure are less than a centimeter, and there are no real risks to pleura injury. The procedure is far less painful, far more safe, and can create more dramatic results.

Hip dips are a feature that breaks up the smooth contour from the waist to the buttock.  In younger women, this transition tends to be smoother.  However, as we age or lose weight, hip dips can become more prominent.  The good news is that it does not take a great deal of volume to fill hip dips.  And, when liposuction is combined the two procedures work together synergistically to create a more curvy body.  

If you are considering rib removal surgery, it may be worthwhile to think about liposuction with fat transfer to the hips to achieve that desired hourglass figure, a procedure that Dr. Neavin has been perfecting for years.  

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