The confusion that feeds the fear
When the press writes about "the dangerous rib removal surgery", it almost always merges different procedures under one headline. Rib resection or removal takes out portions of bone through an open approach. Rib remodeling without resection — described in the peer-reviewed literature since 2023 — removes no bone: it incurves the ribs through a fracture involving only one cortex, performed through punctures under permanent ultrasound control. They have different risk profiles, and judging them together misleads. The full comparison →
The published numbers (with sources)
On the technique without resection, the literature reports:
| Data point | Result | Source (DOI) |
|---|---|---|
| Serious complications (pneumo/hemothorax) | 2.65% — survey of 113 surgeons, multivariable logistic regression | 10.1097/GOX.0000000000007130 |
| Bicortical fractures | 4.6% (15 of 328 patients), mostly within the first 20 days | 10.1093/asj/sjag012 |
| Foundational study (30 patients) | No pneumothorax, hemothorax or infections; 2 skin burns <0.5 cm | 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005499 |
| Respiratory function | Specifically assessed in a 2026 study | 10.1093/asjof/ojag007 |
| Independent systematic review | Efficacy and safety examined across PubMed, Cochrane and Embase | 10.1007/s00266-025-05240-w |
No surgical procedure is zero-risk. These figures describe the technique without resection performed by trained surgeons; they do not automatically apply to other techniques or to untrained hands.
What makes the difference
The technique. Preserving the bone and working through punctures with ultrasound guidance is not the same as opening and removing ribs. The training. The 113-surgeon study analysed precisely which factors are associated with complications: the learning curve and instrument handling matter. Case evaluation. Not everyone is a candidate; preoperative assessment and follow-up are part of the safety profile. More on safety, complication by complication →
What to ask before deciding
If you are considering the procedure: is the surgeon specifically trained in the technique? Do they use real-time ultrasound throughout? Which instrument do they use? How many cases have they performed, and with what complications? What does follow-up look like? A serious surgeon answers these questions with data — the original technique has the published evidence to back them.
This page is for information purposes and cites published, verifiable evidence. It does not replace medical consultation: every case must be evaluated by a qualified plastic surgeon.