Can Muscle Be Removed In Rib Removal Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am a male fitness competitor and I am interested in the surgery to remove the ribs, I would like to reduce my waist to the maximum, what are the costs of the operation and the results ??? Can I also do with the muscle that I marked in the picture ??

A: Thank you for your inquiry and sending your pictures. It is hard to predict what effect rib removal surgery would have in a male because I have never had such a request before. Thus I can only theorize about its effects which I would assume it would be similar to that in a female particularly a female body builder to which I have done one such patient. (which in her was very effective) As for the muscle to which you refer that is the external abdominal oblique. Some of that muscle can probably be removed from the same incision as that used for rib removal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana