Australian influencer Matilda Baxter has drawn fresh concern after posting a video showing her partner apparently able to wrap both hands around her dramatically narrowed waist following controversial “Barbie waist” surgery.
The 23-year-old, who is based in Adelaide and is known online as Tilds Search, appeared in a black compression corset and bright orange cut-out dress in the Instagram clip.
“Guys, waist is non-existent. I am a Barbie Doll,” Baxter said as her partner placed his hands around her middle.
The procedure, known as rib contouring or rib remodelling, involves weakening and fracturing the lower ribs before repositioning them inwards to create a narrower silhouette. Patients are then required to wear a corset-style garment for several weeks to help maintain the new shape. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-10/rib-contouring-snatched-waist-ethical-concerns/107110374))
Baxter travelled to Indonesia for the operation as part of an influencer trip promoted by Bali-based company Snatched Waist. The surgery has prompted scrutiny from medical professionals and eating-disorder campaigners, who have warned about the risks associated with altering the rib cage to achieve an exaggerated body shape.
The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons and the Australian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons have said potential complications can include pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung, and haemothorax, in which blood collects between the chest wall and lungs. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-10/rib-contouring-snatched-waist-ethical-concerns/107110374))
Followers reacted with a mixture of alarm and criticism after Baxter shared the latest footage.
One wrote: “Women were not made to look that way. Each to their own.” Another accused the influencer of promoting an unhealthy and unrealistic standard to impressionable young women.
A third commenter joked that a “search party” was needed for Baxter’s missing waist, while others urged her to consider her health.
The latest video came days after Baxter responded angrily to comments about her changing appearance. She said she had been compared in a private group chat to “a Holocaust survivor with bolt-ons”, describing those making the remarks as “the lowest of the low”.
She also insisted that criticism generated attention and income, saying that people discussing her appearance meant she remained “a topic of discussion”.
In the same video, Baxter showed photographs of herself before undergoing cosmetic procedures and said she had spent between $50,000 and $100,000 on surgery and other treatments. Her procedures have included high-definition liposuction, breast augmentation, hip surgery and rib contouring.
She previously posted footage of herself in lingerie after the operation, telling followers that the result looked “insane” and had not been digitally edited. The posts prompted some viewers to say they could see her ribs and to express concern that she appeared unwell.
Australian authorities have also issued warnings about another aspect of Baxter’s appearance routine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said in August that melanotan II tanning products were not approved as tanning agents and could pose serious health risks, including because products sold online may contain inconsistent or undisclosed doses. ([tga.gov.au](https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/safety-monitoring-and-information/safety-alerts/melanotan-ii-tanning-peptide-products-found-be-inconsistently-dosed?utm_source=openai))
Baxter has acknowledged that she is addicted to tanning beds and told the Daily Mail that she is receiving therapy. She has said her parents and partner are concerned about her use of a home solarium.
Australia’s health-practitioner regulator has said advertising for cosmetic procedures must not use testimonials or mislead people about the risks. It also warns that practitioners should not use language that exploits vulnerabilities or minimises the dangers of treatment. ([ahpra.gov.au](https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Cosmetic-surgery-hub/Cosmetic-procedure-advertising-guidelines/Resources-for-advertising-higher-risk-non-surgical-cosmetic-procedures?utm_source=openai))
