One beauty fanatic has taken extreme measures to achieve a dramatically tiny waist—by undergoing a highly controversial surgery to remove six of her ribs.
Emily James, a 27-year-old from Kansas City, Missouri, had long felt that her waistline was not as small as she desired. Determined to achieve a more exaggerated hourglass figure, she opted for an invasive cosmetic procedure to remove part of her skeleton, a decision that has sparked a wave of mixed reactions online. The procedure, which came with a staggering price tag of $17,000 (£13,568), is one that most surgeons are hesitant to perform due to its inherent risks and complications.
Rib removal surgery is a rare and extreme body modification aimed at creating a more cinched waist. However, medical professionals strongly advise against it, citing concerns over structural integrity, organ protection, and potential long-term health consequences. Despite these warnings, Emily insists the surgery is no more extreme than other body-modifying procedures such as Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs), a comparison that has further fueled debate online.
In addition to the rib removal, Emily also underwent breast augmentation during the same operation, further transforming her appearance. She has been documenting her dramatic cosmetic surgery journey on social media, where her story has been met with a mix of fascination, admiration, and criticism.
One of the most shocking revelations from her experience is what she plans to do with her removed ribs. Rather than discarding them, Emily has decided to turn them into a crown.
“They let me keep the ribs, and I was initially going to gift them to my best friend,” Emily explained. “But then I thought, why not make something creative out of them? So now, I plan on having someone craft a crown from them.”
Her announcement has elicited a variety of reactions, with some people jokingly suggesting she should turn them into chew toys or even boil them down into broth. Emily, known for her dark sense of humor, played along with the comments but assured her followers that she had no intention of engaging in cannibalism.
“People have joked about everything, from me eating my own ribs to making adult toys out of them. One even said my meat would ‘taste delicious,’ but just to be clear, I will not be partaking in cannibalism,” she quipped.
During her recovery, Emily has had to wear a corset 24/7 to manage post-surgical swelling. Despite the drastic nature of her transformation, she insists she is not experiencing unbearable pain and credits her attentive medical team for a smooth recovery process.
She remains defiant in the face of criticism, asserting her right to modify her body as she sees fit.
“Getting my ribs removed doesn’t change the fact that I’m a kind, loving trans girl,” she stated. “I know some of your moms walk around with BBLs—how is this any different? It’s my money, my body, and I’m going to do what I want with it.”
In a follow-up video, she reiterated her excitement about her transformation and doubled down on her plan to turn her ribs into a fashion statement.
“I got my ribs removed yesterday for cosmetic purposes, and they let me keep them. I plan on making them into a crown.”
Emily’s radical body modification has reignited discussions about the ethical boundaries of cosmetic surgery, the influence of social media beauty standards, and the lengths some individuals will go to achieve their ideal aesthetic. While some applaud her for boldly following her desires, others express concern over the risks and long-term health effects of such a procedure.
Regardless of public opinion, Emily remains unwavering in her choices, standing by her belief that body autonomy is paramount—even if it means removing parts of her skeleton for the sake of beauty.