{"id":886082,"date":"2026-09-09T20:40:35","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/886082\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T20:40:35","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T20:40:35","slug":"rib-contouring-surgery-raises-ethical-concerns-in-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/886082\/","title":{"rendered":"Rib contouring surgery raises ethical concerns in Australia"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"a The surgery was approved in Australia earlier this year.(ABC News\/Supplied)<\/p>\n

The plastic surgery procedure promising a smaller waist is gaining popularity online through influencers who have documented their experience of having their ribs contoured.<\/p>\n

Experts warn social media promotion could fuel pressure to achieve increasingly “extreme” body shapes.<\/p>\n

Warning: This article contains content that could be triggering for people who have conditions linked to body dysmorphia or eating disorders.<\/p>\n

Matilda Baxter is no stranger to cosmetic surgery, regularly sharing details of the procedures she has had done with her social media followers.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old has undergone a breast augmentation and liposuction. Her latest procedure, rib contouring, also known as rib remodelling, involves reshaping the ribs to alter the appearance of the waist.<\/p>\n

The procedure has faced criticism from peak eating disorder groups, which have warned it could fuel body dysmorphia among young people.<\/p>\n

If you or anyone you know needs help with an eating disorder:Butterfly Foundation<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 334 673National Eating Disorders Collaboration<\/a>Lifeline<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>on 131 114Kids Helpline<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue<\/a>\u00a0on 1300 224 636Headspace<\/a>\u00a0on 1800 650 890Emergency services on triple-0 if you need immediate care<\/p>\n

The content creator underwent the procedure in Indonesia as part of an influencer brand trip documented on social media by Bali-based company Snatched Waist, using testimonial-style advertising that would be prohibited if it was based in Australia.<\/p>\n

“A lot of younger people will probably value more that I’m transparent and honest about my experience,” the Adelaide-based influencer said.<\/p>\n

“Is it crazy and a bit obsessive? Yeah!”<\/p>\n

The procedure, which is done under general anaesthesia, involves making small puncture wounds in the back. A vibrating tool is then used to weaken the lower ribs, with pressure applied to fracture them in a controlled manner and reposition them into a narrower shape.<\/p>\n

The ribs are not removed, but patients are required to wear a corset-style waist trainer for more than 10 weeks to maintain the shape.<\/p>\n

According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), complications can include pneumothorax, also known as a collapsed lung, and haemothorax, where blood pools in the space between the chest wall and the lungs. The organisations said this had occurred in one in 5,000 patients.<\/p>\n

One doctor certified to do the surgery in Australia told the ABC influencers promoting the procedure had already raised the public interest.<\/p>\n

Social media posts by Snatched Waist announced consultations were available in Australia.<\/p>\n

One post states “turns out the ‘illegal’ body contouring procedure ain’t so illegal”.<\/p>\n

The page also features testimonials from Australian influencers, including reality television stars Bec Zacharia and Monique Morley.<\/p>\n

Ms Baxter said efforts to contour the body had been around for generations.<\/p>\n

“In the 40s and 50s, Marilyn Monroe and everyone wore corsets, and they bruised their ribs to have this hourglass figure,” she said.<\/p>\n

While she said she had a positive experience with her rib surgery, she acknowledged the criticism and body dysmorphia concerns raised by eating disorder advocates.<\/p>\n

She said she did not encourage young people to undergo the surgery without first doing their own research.<\/p>\n

\"A Matilda Baxter says she had a positive experience with her rib surgery.(ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)\"A Ms Baxter travelled to Indonesia to undergo surgery on her waist.(ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)\"A Ms Baxter has almost 1 million followers on her Instagram account.(ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)<\/p>\n

“To look like me you have to rob a bank \u2026 you have to be rich, I’m out here, I do OnlyFans, I’m honest about what I do and how much I’ve spent to look the way I do,” she said.<\/p>\n

“I’ve never sat here and encouraged the surgery.”<\/p>\n

Australia & New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders (ANZAED) chief executive and clinical psychologist Jade Gooding said the promotions of the procedure often “normalise a significant and extreme surgery”.<\/p>\n

“We know that social media does prey on people’s vulnerabilities.”<\/p>\n

Ms Gooding said statistics showed more than 1 million Australians had an eating disorder, but she believed the true figure was likely much higher because conditions were under-reported.<\/p>\n

She said patients needed to be made aware of the risks associated with the surgery.<\/p>\n

“There are really strict laws about how we advertise services in Australia, I’m a clinical psychologist so it is really clear what is right and wrong in terms of testimonials.<\/p>\n

\"A Social media can “prey on people’s vulnerabilities”, Ms Gooding says.(ABC News: Liz Pickering)\"A Ms Gooding says more than 1 million Australians have an eating disorder.(ABC News: Liz Pickering)<\/p>\n

“I think it’s really important that we look at this content online and apply those strict legislative applications.”<\/p>\n

In response to the concerns of eating disorder advocates, Indonesia-based Snatched Waist told the ABC its marketing “explicitly states that dieting does not reshape the waist”, which it said was the opposite of the message associated with disordered eating.<\/p>\n

A ‘rigorous’ screening process<\/p>\n

Brisbane plastic surgeon Dr Justin Perron is one of the first medical professionals in Australia trained to perform the procedure.<\/p>\n

He told the ABC he was vetted by RibXCar program and travelled to Paris to learn the technique, developed by Peruvian plastic surgeon Professor Raul Manzaneda.<\/p>\n

Dr Perron said while the surgery had attracted significant attention on social media, many of his patients had sought the procedure for a range of issues, including scoliosis and gender-affirming surgery for transgender Australians.<\/p>\n

\"a Dr Justin Perron, and his practice manager Jessica Neumann.(Supplied)<\/p>\n

“We are helping rib shape that helps with deformities to the chest wall,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The first person I ever saw in Australia for a consult was actually a man in his 60s who had a rib flare on the anterior service of his ribs.”<\/p>\n

He said the involvement of influencers and celebrities had increased interest in the procedure.<\/p>\n

“When you have very popular influencers, or movie stars [getting the surgery] it gives a lot of oxygen to the subject,” he said.<\/p>\n

“The cosmetic side of it is always going to be glamorised, it doesn’t matter if it’s breast implants or liposuction, or body contouring \u2026 I think that’s why it gets oxygen because it makes the news.”<\/p>\n

Dr Perron told the ABC that he did not work for Snatched Waist, but the company did refer patients to him, which he said was common practice in plastic surgery.<\/p>\n

He said he received consultations through several online referral systems.<\/p>\n

Dr Perron said patients underwent a rigorous screening process to ensure they were suitable for the procedure, and urged anybody considering it to seek information from credible sources and not social media.<\/p>\n

The ASPS and ASAPS said in a joint statement that the associations were “aware of emerging public interest in rib contouring surgery”.<\/p>\n

“It is important to clarify that specific procedures (including rib contouring) are not regulated by AHPRA or any other regulatory body.<\/p>\n

“It is up to individual hospitals to credential surgeons for specific procedures,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

Cosmetic advertising rules in Australia<\/p>\n

In Australia, the national law<\/a> “specifically prohibits the use of testimonials or purported testimonials, such as patient stories and experiences, success stories or fake testimonials” in advertising for health services.<\/p>\n

PT Snatched Waist Clinic said it provided “surgical services in Bali, in internationally accredited facilities and using specialist plastic surgeons”. Its Australian program operates under the name Rib Remodelling.<\/p>\n

The companies also work with medical booking and logistics company Solitaire Travel Pty Ltd, which answered several questions about its involvement.<\/p>\n

The Australian company registers show all three businesses have overlapping investors.<\/p>\n

Solitaire Travel director Jonathan McCormack said PT Snatched Waist Clinic was an Indonesian entity and “the content it posts and the advertising it runs is conducted under Indonesian law”.<\/p>\n

“The Australian programme is marketed separately and complies in full with the AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) advertising guidelines and the Medical Board’s cosmetic surgery guidelines,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

“Two jurisdictions, two entities, two compliant models.<\/p>\n

\"A In Australia, the law prohibits the use of testimonials, such as patient stories and experiences, in advertising.(Supplied: Snatched Waist)\"A Matilda Baxter, along with other influencers, features on Snatched Waist’s social media accounts and Indonesian site to share their experiences with rib contouring.(Supplied: Snatched Waist)\"A Snatched Waist advertises the cosmetic surgery in Bali, Sydney and Brisbane.(Supplied: Snatched Waist)<\/p>\n

“Rib Remodelling Australia has independent marketing initiatives, which are conducted in accordance with all Australian rules and regulations.”<\/p>\n

The ABC could not identify a social media page for Rib Remodelling Australia, while the Indonesia-based Snatched Waist Instagram account has advertised the procedure as being available in Australia, including through content featuring Australian influencers.<\/p>\n

The ABC does not suggest the companies or those promoting them are breaking the law.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency said in a statement it could not comment on specific examples of advertising or promotional arrangements.<\/p>\n

“AHPRA’s primary concern is patient safety. Advertising of health services to be provided in Australia must not use testimonials or mislead about the risk of a procedure,” the statement said.<\/p>\n

“Practitioners advertising procedures should not use language that is exploitative, disapproving or minimises the risk of procedures.”<\/p>\n

Surgery trends evolving over the years<\/p>\n

University of Melbourne researcher Dr Sarah Bonell, who specialises in cosmetic surgery trends, said rib contouring was the “new thing”.<\/p>\n

She said it followed years of popularity for the Brazilian butt lift, when a more curvaceous figure was the prevailing trend, but an ultra-skinny look was now returning amid social media trends and weight-loss drug-fuelled content.<\/p>\n

\"a Dr Sarah Bonell specialises in cosmetic surgery trends.(ABC News: Simon Tucci)\"A Dr Bonell says an ultra-skinny look is making a comeback on social media.(ABC News: Simon Tucci)<\/p>\n

“Rib contouring fits perfectly into that as it’s like now the beauty standard has put the emphasis back on thinness,” she said.<\/p>\n

Dr Bonell said she had noticed promotional material suggesting the look could not be achieved through diet and exercise.<\/p>\n

“It’s like the next evolution in thinness if you’re not getting your results from traditional methods,” she said.<\/p>\n

Back in Adelaide, Matilda Baxter said while she promoted her appearance on social media, she did not believe young people should feel pressured to change themselves.<\/p>\n

\"A Ms Baxter says she does not promote the surgery.(ABC News: Ashlin Blieschke)”I’ve done all of this and now I have to maintain it. I love the way I look \u2026 but it’s not for everyone.”Credits:<\/p>\n

Reporter: Shari Hams<\/a><\/p>\n

Digital production: Lewis Wiseman<\/a><\/p>\n

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