Edge removal: why this operation is performed and why it is dangerous



Victorian fashion appreciated the wasp waist and the figure a la "hourglass" in women. This was achieved at the expense of tight corsets, which representatives of the nobility have worn since childhood. Moreover, even some men put on corsets under the military uniform in order to give themselves an ideal bearing.

In the 20th century, the fashion of an hourglass shape returned (Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese were the ideal). And women, who by nature were not given a thin waist and curvaceous hips, resorted to various tricks to achieve the desired.

One option was (and is to this day) surgery to remove the ribs.

Breast augmentation, buttock lift and tummy tuck are fairly standard procedures for getting a sexy figure. However, people who aspire to the ideal, go to the removal of one or more ribs to their waist was surprisingly thin. Some historians claim that removing the rib for aesthetic purposes has been practiced since the Victorian era. But especially the topic of rib removal became popular in the 70s of the 20th century, when there were rumors that the singer Cher went for this procedure and achieved a very narrow waist. Very few plastic surgeons in the world practice the removal of ribs due to the risks and possible complications associated with this operation.

Why does the body need ribs

The ribs are flat, thin bones that, together with the sternum, make up the rib cage. The ribs provide protection for vital organs in the upper body, including the heart and lungs. The ribs also help protect the large vessels in the upper body. There are twelve pairs of ribs on each side of the body, and along the ribs 24.

The ribs are divided into three categories: true ribs, false ribs and floating ribs.

The main differences between them are in the size and manner of attachment to the anterior part of the skeleton:

1. True ribs are the first seven pairs of ribs in the upper part of the sternum. They are attached to the spine, as well as to the sternum with the help of costal cartilages. The rib cartilage is elastic and allows the expansion of the chest during breathing.
2. False ribs - three pairs of ribs (8, 9 and 10). Like the true ribs, the false edges are connected to the spine on the back. The main difference between the two is that instead of attaching to the sternum, the false edges (which are also slightly shorter than the true edges) are actually attached to the lowest true edges.
3. The eleventh and twelfth ribs are known as "floating" ribs. They are free in the lateral parts of the abdominal wall and cover the organs only from the back, not from the front.

In addition to protecting vital organs such as the heart and lungs, the ribs serve other important purposes in the human body. The ribs give shape and support to the chest. They protect parts of other organs, including the stomach, spleen and kidneys. The ribs also help people breathe. The cartilage that connects the true ribs to the sternum allows the chest to expand when a person breathes in, and the lungs fill with air. The stiffness and weight of the rib bones helps the lungs shrink and push out the air as you exhale.



Who should make a rib resection

Rib resection is usually performed to gain access to organs in the chest cavity or kidneys, or to use the rib as a bone graft in some other part of the body.

A rib resection can also be done to eliminate the abscess between the diaphragm and the liver (subphrenic abscess). Also, the removal of the ribs can be performed with a disease that changes shape or damages the ribs, causing pain. For example, the first rib can be removed in the case of breast exit syndrome, a complex of symptoms that occurs when there is an overpressure on the neurovascular bundle located in the region of the shoulder girdle.

At what age it is better to do such operations.

Removal of the ribs is best done at a young age (between 18 and 25 years). It is much easier for young bodies to recover and the risk of complications will not be as great as in the case of a mature or elderly person.

How is the

Removing the ribs involves extracting the lower ribs to create a contour for a thinner waist. The 12th, 11th edges are most often removed, less often - the 10th edge. The tenth edge is connected to the eighth and ninth edges, and from both sides they form right and left costal arcs. Therefore, some surgeons who perform the removal of the ribs feel that it is unsafe to remove this rib and refuse this procedure.

The rib resection is performed under general anesthesia, which means that the patient will be unconscious during the procedure.

Postoperative rehabilitation course

The goal of rehabilitation after removal of the ribs is to reduce pain, prevent respiratory complications and restore the function of the chest.

Physical therapy is necessary for patients with a weakened respiratory system, restrictions on the use of the upper limbs and functional limitations associated with postural muscles.

Topical application of heat or cold in combination with pharmacological treatment can provide temporary relief of discomfort. With pain, the doctor may refer the patient to electromyostimulation.

In order to prevent respiratory complications, the doctor will train the patient to perform deep breathing exercises. These exercises contribute to the full expansion of the lungs, reduce intercostal muscle spasm, and also increase the discharge from the lungs.

Also needed are exercises aimed at developing the muscles of the shoulders, chest and back, controlling posture. For many women who have undergone surgery to remove the ribs, the posture deteriorates with time if the necessary measures are not taken.

What are the consequences of the operation?

Most certified plastic surgeons believe that removing a rib is too extreme an procedure so that it can be performed for cosmetic purposes. The main function of the chest and ribs is the protection of vital organs. Even the lowest ribs that are removed during an operation are located around some very important parts of the body: the kidneys, the gallbladder, and even parts of the stomach. As a rule, rib removal is performed only for vital reasons, such as bone cancer. Very often, patients who have undergone the removal of one or more ribs develop kidney prolapse and serious problems following this condition, such as pyelonephritis. The normal functioning of the lungs is also complicated, bronchitis and asthma develop, and pain is felt at the site of the removed rib.

Consequences of removing the 12th rib

Removal of the 12th rib leads to an increased risk of injury to internal organs even with a normal fall. Since the resection of the ribs leaves the internal organs defenseless, any blow can cause internal bleeding, and in severe cases it can be fatal.

Complications after rib removal

The risk of complications depends on whether the rib surgery is performed as an isolated procedure or is related to other procedures.

After removing the edges may occur:

• unintended lung collapse (pneumothorax);
• nerve damage;
• fracture along the rib in other places;
• perforation of the diaphragm;
• infectious diseases;
• kidney prolapse;
• pyelonephritis;
• pneumonia.

It is possible to achieve a thin waist without an operation to remove the ribs. Many plastic surgeons say that the proportions of the waist and hips have little in common with the structure of the chest and a lot in common with the distribution of fat in these areas. Cardio exercises such as brisk walking and jogging can be effective when burning fat at the waist. For those who have no desire to perform daily workouts, a tummy tuck can help - an effective procedure that removes fat from the middle part of the abdomen, instantly reducing the waist. Its cost is significantly lower compared to resection of the ribs.

There is no need to sacrifice such an important resource of the organism as a rib for the sake of fleeting beauty.