Barbie Waist Surgery: A Dangerous Trend Unveiled

The rise of the so-called 'Barbie waist' trend has sparked alarm among medical experts after several Married At First Sight stars flew to Bali for the controversial cosmetic procedure last week.

personalities, including - a procedure designed to create an exaggerated hourglass figure by reshaping the lower ribs.

The surgery, which has exploded across social media under names like 'snatched waist' and 'Barbie waist', involves intentionally fracturing the lower ribs before forcing them inward using an ultra-tight corset worn for months during recovery.

Now Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Cat Begovic has issued a stark warning about the potentially devastating risks associated with the emerging trend.

'Rib remodelling is a relatively new procedure, only becoming known to the public in the last few years,' Dr Begovic explained.

'Older versions of this procedure involved removing the lower ribs, but newer techniques involve making cuts in the lower ribs and then fracturing them inward.'

'Patients need to wear a tight corset 24/7 for at least three months while the bones heal and mould into the smaller shape.'

Dr Begovic said while many patients are drawn to the dramatic waist-cinching effect, there are serious medical risks that cannot be ignored - including complications that can affect breathing.

'Because the ribs are right next to the lungs there is a potential of developing a pneumothorax - where the sac around the lung is torn causing air to rush in and compress the lung, or injury to the lung itself,' she said.

'The biggest concern I have regarding this procedure is that there have been no long-term studies on the potential health risks.'

'Other than lung injury, there can be chronic pain, possible decreased lung function, or compromise to the protection that the ribs provide.'

The warning comes after Bec dramatically pulled the plug on her rib surgery after she .

Just days after it was revealed she had travelled overseas to undergo the increasingly popular operation, Bec made a shock last-minute decision to walk away moments before she was due to go under the knife.

Speaking on the MAFS Funny podcast, the 35-year-old admitted she arrived at the luxury Bali hospital fully prepared for surgery before questioning whether she was making the right decision.

'I walked in and I thought, 'Am I ready? Is this what I want to do?' Bec said.

'I just think that I'm going to take a little bit of time to think about it a little bit more.'

Bec explained that while she was impressed by the facility and had complete confidence in the surgeons, she ultimately realised she wasn't ready.

'It's state-of-the-art. It's beautiful. One of the most amazing hospitals I've ever seen in my life,' she said.

'I'm not ready yet. I don't know if I will be ready. I don't know if I'm going to go ahead and get it done.'

She stressed that no one involved in organising the trip had pressured her into proceeding with the operation.

'The company that's brought me out here isn't pressuring me saying, 'You've got to get it done.' I have the full ability to make that decision as to whether or not it's something that aligns with me.'

Rather than flying home immediately, Bec has extended her stay in Bali by another week to reflect on whether she still wants to undergo the procedure.

Bec also addressed criticism from social media users who suggested she needed professional help, insisting she knows herself better than strangers online.

'Everyone keeps going on about how I need therapy and I need mental help and whatnot. I'm very in tune with myself and what I need and what I want,' she said. 

'People can make assumptions from snippets they see of my life on social media, but I know who I am.

'I think it takes courage to sit here and go, "Well actually, I am taking a step back to think about it."