Former Married at First Sight contestant Bec Zacharia has confirmed she underwent a controversial rib repositioning procedure at a Balinese clinic, revealing the news to her 100,000 Instagram followers on Tuesday night — just days after publicly saying she was reconsidering the surgery altogether.
The 35-year-old, who appeared on the show's 2026 season, was among a group of ten influencers flown to Bali by cosmetic company Snatched Waist as part of an influencer collaboration. The group included fellow MAFS bride Awhina Rutene and Bachelor star Monique Morley.
Weeks of uncertainty before going under the knife
Zacharia's confirmation came after a prolonged period of public indecision. Just one week earlier, she had told a podcast that she was "taking a step back to think about it" and was unsure whether she would go ahead with the operation at all.
"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 said at the time.
However, on Tuesday she posted a video walking her followers through the entire experience — from her arrival at the Balinese clinic, to receiving IV fluids from nursing staff, and finally entering the operating theatre alongside two medical personnel.
"I've been lying to you, I haven't had surgery yet — I'm in Bali, it's almost been three weeks," she told her audience. "There are delays in life, one that I can't control, but today is the day . . . I'm actually going to take you in with me."
Footage shot after the procedure showed her recovering in bed wearing a medical corset, describing her pain level as manageable.
"I'm out of surgery, it all went really well . . . the pain is probably a 3 out of 10 right now. I'm comfortable," she said. "You'll be seeing me in a corset for the next 12 weeks."
What is rib repositioning surgery?
Rib repositioning — also referred to as rib remodelling or rib reshaping — is a cosmetic procedure designed to narrow the waist by fracturing and repositioning the lower ribs. The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic, with surgeons making two small punctures in the patient's back.
A specialised instrument known as a piezotome is then used to vibrate and weaken the bone before the surgeon applies pressure to fracture its outer layer. The ribs are subsequently repositioned to reduce waist width. Zacharia's procedure involved changing the position of four ribs. Following the surgery, patients must wear a compression garment for several months.
A group trip — but no pressure to participate, Zacharia says
Although Snatched Waist covered the cost of travel for all ten influencers, Zacharia was clear that she did not feel coerced into having the procedure.
"The company that's brought me out here isn't pressuring me saying, 'You've got to get it done,'" she said. "I have the full ability to make that decision as to whether or not it's something that aligns with me."
Not everyone in the group went through with the surgery. Awhina Rutene, a Western Australian mother of one who also appeared on MAFS, pulled out of the procedure at the last minute. Monique Morley, however, did proceed, sharing a post-surgery image in her medical corset and comparing the experience to wearing Invisalign for teeth.
What's next for Zacharia
Zacharia has signalled she plans to document her recovery journey publicly, promising followers ongoing updates as her results develop over the coming weeks and months. With a 12-week corset requirement ahead of her, her social media audience can expect to follow the full post-operative process in real time.
