Do You See Out Of State Rib Removal Patients?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hello! Do you see out-of-state patients for rib removal surgery? I have a wide waist/rib cage and flared ribs. I’d like waist reduction, but I live in Omaha, NE. How would the process, operation, and post-op work for out of state patients? 

A:Thank you for sending your pictures which show two issues along with your description; flared subcostal ribs and a straight/wide waist line with a lean body frame. While both require rib surgery they are in different locations with different techniques. The flared subcostal ribs are treated by cartilage scoring  of ribs 8,9 and 10 with postoperative garments to mold them inward. I feel this technique is better than actual excision due to less visible scarring to do so. Conversely waistline reduction is done by rib removal (11 and 12) with muscle reduction as I find this technique more effectve than the rib fracture method.

Because it is two different surgical locations one has to consider which rib problem is of the greatest priority. While it is technically possible to perform all four rib area surgeries in the same operation I would only do so after evaluating the patient’s recovery issues more carefully.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon