A 6- to 8-inch incision (cut) will be made down the middle of your chest wall by your surgeon. Then, in order to reach your heart, he or she will cut your breastbone and expose your rib cage. During the procedure, you will be given medication to thin your blood and prevent it from clotting. You may also receive a blood transfusion if needed. The ribs are very strong but they can be broken if enough force is applied directly over the area where two ribs meet. For example, if a car crashes into you and then gets back up and drives off, you might get injured doing this. But doctors say that breaking ribs is not usually serious. It can be done safely under local anesthetic. Some patients are allergic to the plate used to fix their broken bones. If this is you, you will need to replace the plate every few years as part of your regular doctor's visits. The plates are expensive ($7000 or more), so think about how long you want to have them before replacing them. During recovery, you will be given pain medicine that will help with the discomfort of having your chest opened up. After the surgery is finished, you will be sent home. Overall, broken ribs can be very painful and difficult to heal from. They can lead to chronic pain if not treated properly. However, this type of injury is not usually fatal.