Would you like a smaller waist?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (388118)
Rockingham, Australia
September 12, 2026 9:24pm CST
I’ve written about some of the extremes that people go to to get the physical features that they think will make them more attractive. A new one has popped up on my radar: that of rib contouring or rib modelling. Small puncture wounds are made in the back and the lower ribs are then weakened by a vibrating tool. Applied pressure then fractures them and they are repositioned to give a narrower waistline. A type of corset needs to be worn for several months while the ribs stabilise.
I can’t imagine anything more ridiculous and the photos I’ve seen of women who have undergone this procedure do nothing to change my mind. To me, they look mostly quite grotesque. I can't understand why people follow influencers so slavishly.
Occasionally the procedure is justified if there are deformities to the ribs and chest wall. The operation is done under general anaesthetic and is not without its dangers with 1 in 5,000 suffering collapsed lungs or haemothorax where blood pools between the chest wall and the lungs.
Here is the link if you’d like to see the results of rib modelling: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-10/rib-contouring-snatched-waist-ethical-concerns/107110374
The photo is mine and nothing to do with the discussion.
7 people like this
8 responses
@pitsipeahie (5764)
•
Just now
Sometimes I wonder if people have become so critical of their own bodies that they’re willing to alter them in such extreme and drastic ways just to achieve a certain look or shape. I’m not saying that everyone who does this or has cosmetic work done has a mental health issue, but there can definitely be something unhealthy about becoming so fixated or obsessed on one particular body feature that you’re willing to go to such extremes to change it.
@luisadannointed (12882)
• Philippines
1h
It sounds painful.
But during Thalia - the latina actress and singer, many are saying that she removed one of her ribs, and many women are doing the same thing to have a smaller and sexy waist, but that was rumors before. But one of my classmate is done the same not to get pretty but she have to undergo surgery because of her sickness, but she's fine now, but she have smaller waist because she lost one rib.
@crossbones27 (53861)
• Mojave, California
4h
Yeah, that does not fix anything, that is just torching yourself. I do not know how to spell torture. 
@rebelann (118707)
• El Paso, Texas
4h
What a stupid thing to do to oneself. Thankfully we're both in an age range that knows just how stupid influencers can be and outside of curiosity would never do what they suggest.
