Until a few years ago, for the treatment of pectus excavatum, the NUSS procedure (a bar is placed inside the chest to lift up the thorax) or the Ravitch procedure (to surgically raise the sternum removing the costochondral joints) was usually used. The problem is that these interventions could cause significant complications such as cardiac perforation, pleural effusion, and erosion of the pulmonary vessels, infections or displacement of the bar.
Currently, the plastic surgeons at Antiaging Group Barcelona (Spain) offer a safe and definitive method for patients with pectus excavatum. The company AnatomikModeling creates a custom-made implant based on the thorax deformity using a CT (CAT) scan. The implant covers and adapts to the entire defect and is implanted using the technique of professor Chavoin (world renowned pioneer in Anatomik Modelling implants).
The advantages of this surgical technique for patients with pectus excavatum (sunken chest) are the following:
- Customized and personalized surgery according to the existing deformity.
- Soft but solid silicone material, which a feel like that of the sternum (chest bone) and definitive.
- The edges of the implant adapt to the defect and are also covered by the musculature.
The operation for pectus excavatum using AnatomikModeling implants lasts about 45 minutes. Physical exercise is to be avoided for 8-12 weeks according to the size of the implant.
The technique can be carried out alone or combined with other treatments (breast implants, fat transfer, pectoral implants) according to the needs of the patient.
The great advantage of the correction of this type of deformities of the thorax by means of surgery using silicone implants is that it is a safe and easy intervention which avoids open chest surgery and its possible complications.
The team of plastic surgeons at Antiaging Group Barcelona (Spain) is the only Spanish centre of reference for AnatomikModeling. Doctor Jesús Benito’s team has received theoretical and practical training on the computerized construction of 3D implants and the distinct intervention techniques.