A growing number of Australian influencers and reality television personalities have traveled to Sanur, Bali, to explore a controversial cosmetic surgery designed to create a narrower waist and a more pronounced hourglass figure by reshaping the lower ribs. This emerging procedure, which involves fracturing and repositioning the lowest two pairs of ribs using ultrasonic tools, has ignited a heated debate among medical experts and the public, with concerns raised about its safety and necessity.
The surgery, not approved in Australia, is being promoted in conjunction with a Brisbane-based medical tourism initiative. The technique requires patients to wear a waist trainer or corset post-operation to guide the ribs as they heal into a smaller shape. Critics argue that the procedure glamorizes risky body modification trends and could influence younger audiences to consider potentially dangerous surgeries without fully understanding the implications.
Sydney cosmetic physician Naomi McCullum, while not a surgeon, cautioned prospective patients about the risks involved in any cosmetic intervention. She emphasised that travelling overseas for surgery added further complications and urged individuals to take such risks seriously. “The most important thing for anyone considering a cosmetic procedure is to take the risks really seriously. Make sure you know what they are and that you’re willing to take them, because they happen,” McCullum said. She also warned against following cosmetic trends that could lead to regret after the procedures.
Among those who underwent the surgery was influencer Carly Ellen, who publicly shared her experience with her 67,000 Instagram followers. The 36-year-old, who described herself as slim with no excess fat around her waist, cited genetics as the limitation to achieving her desired figure. She detailed her recovery process, noting initial swelling was expected and that she would gradually tighten her compression garment as healing progressed.
Conversely, influencer Laura Knowles, who traveled to Bali with the group but ultimately decided against the surgery, addressed her considerable online audience to explain her choice. She encouraged others to conduct thorough research and seek professional medical advice before making decisions about cosmetic surgery. “As with any medical decision, everyone should do their own research, seek appropriate professional advice, and make the decision that’s right for them,” Knowles wrote.
Former Married at First Sight contestant Lauren Dunn expressed concern about the procedure, describing it as “worrying” despite supporting individual autonomy over one’s body.
The debate surrounding this novel rib reshaping surgery highlights the tensions between innovative cosmetic treatments, the rise of medical tourism, and the responsibility of public figures to consider the broader impact of promoting such procedures.