Page 1Group 7Page 1Fill 5 Copy 2Group 5
  • For Women
  • For Men
  • Gender Reassignment
request a consultation

Blog / Body / Pectoral Implants / A Story of Pectus: Treating Pectus Excavatum With Plastic Surgery...

A Story of Pectus: Treating Pectus Excavatum With Plastic Surgery

December 7th, 2014 Share

Congenital anomaly or malformation of the pectus (i.e. chest) is relatively common and this condition may present in a wide variation of severity. As one of Canada’s top body implant experts, I very commonly see patients with one of these anomalies coming to my plastic surgery office in Toronto.

What Is Pectus Excavatum?

The chest wall refers to the ribs and the sternum (aka chest bone). During its development, the front part of the chest wall can become too deep, i.e. excavated, hence the term pectus excavatum.

At the other end of the spectrum for chest anomaly is a condition characterized by a raised mid-chest area, analogous to the keel or hull of a boat, known as “carinata” in Latin, hence, pectus carinatum.  It is also referred to as “pigeon’s chest,” “opera singer’s chest,” or “barrel chest.”

Very severe pectus excavatum can interfere with breathing. This serious condition would normally be corrected surgically early during development by thoracic pediatric surgeons. The “Ravitch” and “Nuss” procedures are such examples.

Less severe conditions do not require treatment during childhood and adolescence but may become an aesthetic concern over time. Hence my involvement as a Toronto cosmetic surgery specialist.

Treating Pectus Excavatum

Various treatment options exist depending on the anatomic manifestation and severity of the pectus excavatum deformity and the patient’s expectations. Cost and recovery for the correction of pectus excavatum will also vary according to the chosen technique.

Bilateral pectoral augmentation with implants can sometimes be an option for mild pectus excavatum. Those implants are made of soft, cushion-like silicone polymer. The material is similar to buttock and calf implants.

Another option for correction of pectus excavatum is fat grafting. Fat is taken from the patient from another location, such as the abdomen, legs, love handles, etc., centrifuged (Coleman’s technique of fat transfer) and transferred delicately into the soft tissue defect. This is a similar technique as seen in facial fat transfer and with the Brazilian butt lift technique I perform in Toronto, but on a smaller scale.  This technique is very limited for this location as the thickness of soft tissue is very restrictive.

Pectus Excavatum Implants

My most common option for pectus excavatum correction however is a custom-made implant. This is where the ultimate meaning of plastic surgery comes handy: plastikos or plasticus meaning “the ability to mold, shape and form.”  This custom-made implant requires a first visit where the defect is temporarily corrected with the molding of plasticine-like material by the plastic surgeon to fit into the patient’s concavity (defect). The patient also gets to approve the molding. Once dried, the mold is sent back to the U.S. for the final implant to be made, cured and sterilized, after which it is sent back to Toronto for implantation.

pectus excavatum Toronto, pectus excavatum in Toronto, Toronto pectus excavatum, correction of pectus excavatum, pectoral implant Toronto, pec implant

Front view custom-made implant for pectus excavatum

 

The implantation process for pectus excavatum is done either under intravenous deep sedation or general anesthesia in our accredited surgical centre in Toronto.  A 4 to 5cm incision is required and placed in the inverted-V area, where the chest bone meets the ribs and abdomen, in the midline.

The Results

Because the custom-made chest implant is shaped to be very thin at the edges, the possibility to see the edges post-operatively is small. Shifting or displacement of the chest implant is also unlikely once the body has formed a capsule and secured the implant after the first 6 to 8 weeks post-procedure.

pectus excavatum Toronto, pectus excavatum in Toronto, Toronto pectus excavatum, correction of pectus excavatum, pectoral implant Toronto, pec implant

Side view of a custom-made implant for pectus excavatum

 

The aesthetic correction of any pectus excavatum deformity does restore patients’ confidence and self-esteem. It is a very satisfactory procedure for both myself and my patients in Toronto.

pectus excavatum Toronto, pectus excavatum in Toronto, Toronto pectus excavatum, correction of pectus excavatum, pectoral implant Toronto, pec implant

Dr. DuPere’s patient with Pectus excavatum

pectus excavatum Toronto, pectus excavatum in Toronto, Toronto pectus excavatum, correction of pectus excavatum, pectoral implant Toronto, pec implant

Dr. DuPere’s patient with pectus excavatum

 

pectus excavatum Toronto, pectus excavatum in Toronto, Toronto pectus excavatum, correction of pectus excavatum, pectoral implant Toronto, pec implant

Before and After. Low pectus excavatum involving ribs. Dr DuPere’s patient. Consent obtained

 

To see more examples of the results you can expect from the procedure, please visit our before-and-after photo gallery.

If you would like to learn more about pectus excavatum implants at my plastic surgery practice in Toronto, please contact us online or call (416) 929-9800.

 

 

by Dr. Marc DuPéré