Chest procedures for men are rare as some men would rather suffer in silence than have their secrets revealed and risk humiliation from their peers.
A sunken or funnel chest as its name suggests is an indentation of the chest which makes it appear sunken or caved in. This usually does not affect the overall health of the individual save for his self-esteem and other psychological effects that hamper his social or professional interactions.
At Marina Plastic Surgery, our chest surgeons hold your privacy in the highest regard. We offer high-quality services discreetly with results aimed at improving your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Overview
A man’s chest is more than just a body part. It is one of the largest things visually, on a man’s upper body. It also exudes masculinity, power, virility and other things most men are conditioned to think of when it comes to their gender.
Lacking in this department can seriously affect one’s self-esteem.
And yet, most men would rather suffer in silence than to risk public humiliation about their present condition.
One of the worst chest conditions a man can have is a sunken or funnel chest. Visually, this is a very disturbing physical deformity with little to no effect on the overall health of the person suffering from it. What it does though is give off an appearance of weakness which usually affects the person on a subconscious level affecting their social and professional interactions.
Correcting this condition through any of the sunken chest treatments we have available can vastly improve your appearance, health condition and social and professional interactions.
At Marina Plastic Surgery, we’ve dealt with chest conditions ranging from sunken or funnel chests to gynecomastia. We offer discreet services to respect your privacy. We have a long list of successful operations done with the majority of our patients providing us with positive statements and testimonials regarding the results of their chest operation.
Best Candidates
Males with good general health and as close as possible to their ideal BMI based on age, height and other physical factors.
Males aged 8 to 21 and older with sunken or funnel chest conditions can benefit from a sunken chest treatment procedure.
What to Expect
An initial consultation will be done to assess what you essentially need for functionality with a secondary assessment by our chest surgeon done for the aesthetic purpose of the operation.
Treatment is highly dependent on the type of chest condition you have. For patients with less severe cases or those not suffering from any other complication due to having a funnel or sunken chest, physical therapy to strengthen the chest muscles and improve posture may be advised.
More severe cases may require non-invasive or mildly invasive surgery with positive results expected.
There are currently
For excessively mild pectus excavatum cases, physical therapy to strengthen the chest area and improve one’s posture may be advised.
Another method is the use of a vacuum bell which can be done at home by most patients. This is basically an apparatus placed on the chest that creates a vacuum pulling the chest forward. In time, the chest stays forward on its own. This is a nonsurgical approach that has garnered positive results.
The Ravitch procedure involves removing abnormal cartilage and ribs, fracturing the sternum, and placing a support system in the chest to hold it in the proper position. This is highly successful for patients 14 to 21 years old.
The Nuss procedure on the other hand, is a more recent, less invasive technique. Small incisions are made to the patient’s sides and a curved metal bar is inserted. This pushes the sternum and ribs out. This method can be used for patients 8 years and older.
After Surgery / Recovery
As with all types of surgical procedures, caring for the areas where sutures were made is the highest priority. Following your chest surgeon’s instruction for the proper care of affected areas is highly advised.
Pain management can be administered by hospital staff or by the patient. It can be oral or through intravenous methods.
Physical therapy will be introduced gradually for muscle strengthening and fortifying the areas operated on.
Bar removal (if a bar was installed will be removed after healing recovery within the operated area is at a satisfactory level.)
Procedure Planner
Initial Meeting
45 – 60 minutes
Pre-op
30 – 60 minutes
Procedure Time
2 – 6 hours depending on the technique used (total number of weeks including bar installation and removal.)
Recovery Time
2 – 8 weeks (total number of weeks including bar installation and removal.)
Post-op Follow Up
1 week (bar removal is dependent on the patient’s recovery period)