Amy Castano Reveals $15k 'Barbie Waist' Rib Surgery

Fitness influencer Amy Castano has revealed she underwent controversial 'Barbie waist' surgery, becoming the latest online personality to disclose having the procedure after Married At First Sight star Bec Zacharia faced fierce backlash over it earlier this year.

Castano told her Instagram followers she had rib remodelling to create a more dramatically defined hourglass figure. "I did a rib remodelling. You asked some questions on my experience, [so] here are the answers," she said. "Yes, I did, and as you can see, it is snatched."

The fitness entrepreneur stressed the treatment was a genuine surgical procedure carried out under general anaesthetic in a hospital. "It is actual surgery. You go under general anaesthetic. It's done by a surgeon," she said.

Cost and recovery

Castano disclosed the surgery cost $14,870 upfront, or could be financed for roughly $69 a week. She said the first week of recovery was manageable with Panadol and medication prescribed by her surgeon.

"The second, third, fourth week, I'd say the pain fully subsided, but it wasn't actual pain," she said. "It was more of an uncomfortable feeling, and because you're wearing the garment, it's keeping everything together and you feel secure. So no, it wasn't specifically painful as much as I thought it would be."

She said the suggested recovery period was 12 weeks, though this could vary depending on the procedure and the individual. The celebrity trainer began "very, very light cardio" after two weeks before gradually returning to resistance exercise, building up to light resistance training at four weeks and light weights at eight weeks, which was her stage at the time of posting.

Why she went public

Castano said she resumed exercise only under the guidance of her personal trainer and warned followers against copying her routine without professional advice. "None of that should ever be considered unless you speak to a professional and know how you feel in your body," she said.

She said she chose to speak publicly because she did not want followers to think her new figure came solely from exercise and healthy eating. "I think it's important that we see so much online of how women, or anyone, look incredible, and we often judge ourselves on how others look and how we wish we could look like that," she said. "So I think it's important to know that this wasn't achieved just through diet and exercise. I did get a procedure done, and I'm not uncomfortable talking about it."

Castano said she wanted to be "transparent and honest" about the work she had undergone. "I don't want anyone else looking at me and thinking, 'I wish I could get that,' or, 'I can achieve that through diet and exercise,'" she said.

What rib remodelling involves

Rib remodelling, also called rib contouring, has grown in prominence after several Australian reality stars and influencers documented their experiences with it. Practitioners say it differs from traditional rib-removal surgery because no bones are taken out. Instead, the lower ribs are reshaped and repositioned inward to narrow the waist, and the patient then wears a tight compression garment throughout a lengthy healing process.

The Bec Zacharia controversy

The procedure became the subject of intense debate earlier this year after Married At First Sight bride Bec Zacharia travelled to Bali with a group of influencers to consider having the operation. The trip was organised through cosmetic tourism company Snatched Waist and included fellow reality personalities Awhina Rutene, Monique Morley and Carly Ellen.

Zacharia initially pulled out on the day of her scheduled operation, saying she remained uncertain about going through with it. She later said she had been invited to Bali as part of an influencer collaboration but insisted she had not been pressured or rushed. "At every stage, I have been encouraged to take my time, ask questions, consider my options carefully and make a decision that feels right for me," she said at the time.

She then changed her mind again and confirmed she had gone through with the surgery, sharing footage of her preparations and her recovery in bed while wearing a corset. Zacharia said her pain was only "two out of ten" after the operation and defended her decision, declaring: "My body, my choice." She added: "I took the time I needed to really assess the situation and had plenty of meetings with the team. I came to the conclusion that it was something I wanted, not needed, but wanted. And today, post-op, I am so glad I did it."

Zacharia faced a wave of criticism over the procedure's potential risks and the message its promotion sent to young women on social media. Former Married At First Sight bride Domenica Calarco accused her of taking part in "just another PR ploy to fix her public perception," which Zacharia rejected, describing the response as "personal attacks, bullying and abuse" and saying people should be able to make informed choices about their own bodies without harassment.

Medical concerns

Australian medical experts have voiced reservations about rib remodelling given its novelty and the limited long-term evidence on its safety and effectiveness. Professor Anand Deva, head of plastic surgery at Macquarie University, has warned there are "a lot of vital structures that could be damaged," particularly when the procedure is performed through a small access point. Dr Jason Girkin, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Newcastle, has noted that ribs are surrounded by intercostal nerves, meaning possible complications include pain or discomfort.

The surgery is not currently offered in Australia, which is why interested influencers travel overseas for it. Promotional material for Snatched Waist describes the operation as ultrasound-guided costal remodelling performed under general anaesthetic, and the company says patients must wear a compression garment continuously for at least ten weeks, with 12 weeks recommended.