Rib Contouring Surgery Raises Concerns Over Body Image and Safety
Rib contouring surgery, a procedure that involves reshaping the ribs to create a narrower waist, has gained popularity online through social media influencers. However, experts warn that social media promotion could fuel pressure to achieve increasingly "extreme" body shapes.
A growing trend in cosmetic surgery has raised concerns among health experts in Australia. Rib contouring, a procedure that involves reshaping the ribs to create a narrower waist, has gained popularity online through social media influencers who have documented their experiences.
The procedure, also known as rib remodelling, involves making small puncture wounds in the back and using a vibrating tool to weaken and reposition the lower ribs into a narrower shape. While it has been approved in Australia, experts warn that social media promotion could fuel pressure to achieve increasingly "extreme" body shapes.
Risks and Complications
According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), complications can include pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, and haemothorax, where blood pools in the space between the chest wall and the lungs. The organisations said this had occurred in one in 5,000 patients.
Influencer Marketing and Concerns
Matilda Baxter, a 23-year-old influencer from Adelaide, recently underwent the procedure in Indonesia as part of an influencer brand trip documented on social media by Bali-based company Snatched Waist. "A lot of younger people will probably value more that I'm transparent and honest about my experience," she said. "Is it crazy and a bit obsessive? Yeah!"
However, Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) chief executive and clinical psychologist Jade Gooding said the promotions of the procedure often "normalise a significant and extreme surgery". "We know that social media does prey on people's vulnerabilities."
Regulations and Screening
Brisbane plastic surgeon Justin Perron, one of the first medical professionals in Australia trained to perform the procedure, said patients underwent a rigorous screening process to ensure they were suitable for the procedure. "We are helping rib shape that helps with deformities to the chest wall," he said.
Cosmetic Advertising Rules
In Australia, the national law "specifically prohibits the use of testimonials or purported testimonials, such as patient stories and experiences, success stories or fake testimonials" in advertising for health services.