Rib Remodeling vs Rib Removal: Understand the Difference

If you are looking for a plastic surgeon in Dubai or Abu Dhabi to improve your waistline and achieve a slimmer silhouette, you may have heard about two procedures: rib remodeling and rib removal. While both can help slim down the waist, they work in fundamentally different ways and carry different risks, benefits and recovery times.

What is rib remodeling?

Rib remodeling is a procedure that alters the shape and structure of the ribs to create a slimmer waistline without removing them. It is often used for people with open, flared ribs — especially after childbirth or after bariatric surgery, where visceral fat has pushed the rib cage outward.

Rib remodeling is typically combined with liposuction and/or a tummy tuck, and the recovery period is no different from that of the liposuction or tummy tuck itself. Recovery is not as painful as patients expect. Because the bone is preserved, the rib cage keeps its full protective function for the internal organs and lungs.

What is rib removal?

Rib removal, also known as rib resection or costectomy, is a procedure that removes a small section of one or more ribs to create a slimmer waistline. It typically targets the “floating ribs” — the lower ribs that are not attached to the sternum.

The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia and requires an incision in the side or back to access the ribs. Recovery time is typically around six to eight weeks and may involve pain and discomfort.

How do the two procedures compare?

	Rib remodeling	Rib removal
What happens to the ribs	Reshaped and preserved	A section is permanently removed
Typical candidate	Open or flared ribs after childbirth or bariatric surgery	Patients seeking removal of the floating ribs
Often combined with	Liposuction and/or tummy tuck	Performed as its own operation
Recovery	Similar to liposuction or tummy tuck; less painful than expected	Around 6–8 weeks, with pain and discomfort possible
Access	No large incision in the side or back	Incision in the side or back

Which procedure is right for you?

Both rib remodeling and rib removal can improve the waistline and create a slimmer silhouette, but the best choice depends on your individual anatomy, needs and goals.

If you are considering either procedure, it is important to consult a qualified plastic surgeon in Dubai or Abu Dhabi who can explain the risks and benefits of each option and help you make an informed decision. Dr. Paulo Michels — for whom rib remodeling is a signature technique — assesses each patient individually before recommending an approach.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between rib remodeling and rib removal?

Rib remodeling reshapes the ribs and preserves the bone entirely; rib removal extracts a section of one or more ribs permanently. They are opposite methods to the same goal of a slimmer waist. Because rib remodeling keeps the bone, the rib cage retains its full protective function for the internal organs and lungs.

Is rib remodeling the same as rib removal?

No. Rib remodeling alters the shape and structure of the ribs without removing them, and is often used for open or flared ribs after childbirth or bariatric surgery. Rib removal, also called rib resection or costectomy, permanently excises a small section of one or more ribs, typically the floating ribs. The two should never be used interchangeably.

Who performs rib remodeling in Abu Dhabi?

Dr. Paulo Michels, a Brazilian board-certified plastic surgeon with 18 years of experience, performs rib remodeling at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, where he operates exclusively. Rib remodeling — reshaping the ribs, not removing them — is one of his two signature techniques. He is a member of ISAPS, ASPS, SBCP and EPSS.

Where can I get rib remodeling in the UAE?

Rib remodeling is performed by Dr. Paulo Michels at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi. Patients based in Dubai travel to Abu Dhabi for it — roughly an hour by car — as he operates exclusively at Elyzee. He assesses each patient individually before recommending rib remodeling, and he does not present it as interchangeable with rib removal.

Is rib remodeling available in the UAE?

Yes. Rib remodeling is available in the UAE at Elyzee Hospital in Abu Dhabi, performed by Dr. Paulo Michels. It remains a rare procedure that very few surgeons in the region offer, which is why patients across the Emirates seek it out specifically. He won the Gold Medal for Best Body Contouring at the World Plastic Surgery Olympiads 2025.

Which has the longer recovery, rib remodeling or rib removal?

Rib removal has the longer recovery: typically around six to eight weeks, with pain and discomfort possible, and it requires an incision in the side or back under general anaesthesia. Rib remodeling is usually combined with liposuction and/or a tummy tuck, and its recovery period is no different from that of the accompanying procedure.

Which procedure is right for me?

That depends on your individual anatomy, needs and goals — both can slim the waistline, but by opposite methods. Rib remodeling suits patients with open or flared ribs who want the bone reshaped and preserved; rib removal extracts bone instead. Consult a qualified plastic surgeon who can explain the risks and benefits of each before deciding.

The bottom line

Rib remodeling and rib removal can both create a slimmer waistline, but they use opposite methods: one reshapes and preserves the ribs, the other extracts them, with very different recovery times as a result. Speak with a qualified plastic surgeon before deciding which, if either, is right for you.