Chest Operation

Learn more about the original operation here: here.

It has been over 15 years since I had my Pectus Excavatum corrective surgery.

I had the surgery relatively late in my life, at 29, perhaps that slowed the healing process... as it was, it took close to 10 years before I could comfortably lie on my side.

If you are thinking of this surgery, be prepared to sleep on your back, and only your back for some time. And remember, as an adult there are other things that you do on your side...!

Did it work? My chest looks a lot different. I don't get comments about it, and I am not as fit nor strong as I was before the operation, yet my chest looks bigger. It is more even, but still not nearly symmetrical, nor is it big - the pectus muscles still sit in a bit of a shallow (though it is not as deep as it was). Posture was affected, my ribs aren't flat in line with my backbone anymore.

My asthma was unaffected.

My health and hobbies were significantly affected, for a long time due to the time and sensitivity in the ribs my swimming was reduced, and activities that put pressure on the chest (throwing, hitting, lifting weights, etc.) were impeded for a long time.

There are still some sections of my chest that are painful to touch. Even removing something as insignificant as an ingrown hair can be excruciating.

There are other sections that feel normal.

I am not as lean nor as strong as before the operation, yet I seem to be closer to having visible abdominal muscles now than I ever did pre-operation, even though I was significantly more dedicated to and was a lot more active; cycling 150km/week, swimming, dancing 2 hours/week, and weights (4 times a week). Now I don't cycle, dancing hurt for a few years, and I don't go to the gym as often, nor as hard.

Would I recommend this now...? The younger you are the better off you will be. Recovery will be quicker, you probably have more support and you have more time to recover and to rebuild the muscle, strength and tone that you had.

It is extremely painful, and for a long time! The operation is not guaranteed to work, nor is it 100% safe.

I was contacted by a person who said her child had a similar surgery (bar is placed in chest to push or flex out symmetrical ribs), and a few weeks after the bar was removed the chest returned to how it was. Which I know would have been very painful and distressing and the parent certainly seemed distressed at what they witnessed.

Fortunately, just Googling "Pectus Excavatum" will now turn up a lot of information about the condition, the surgery, and the recovery.

All the best with your decision and (if necessary) your recovery.

Learn more about my experience: here.

A couple of notes:

• When the pectus bar was removed, it provided immense relief—even though I hadn't realized there was pain before its removal (albeit normalized in the months before), and it had impeded some movements.
• Becoming pain-free during normal activities, such as lying on my side without any issues, took several years after the bar was removed.
• Exercising across the full range of exercises that I did before the initial operation without pain took several years after the bar was removed. It took a long time to regain my ability to perform all my previous exercises/movements without a twinge or twang.
• I could sneeze and cough fully without pain a few years after the bar was removed, but it was possible to sneeze and cough almost immediately after its removal but with some discomfort.
• Getting a full night's sleep and being able to change positions freely took years after the bar's removal.
• Despite aiming to complete 65 press-ups/push-ups in one minute, I never achieved this again. Recovery took so long that I lost much of my muscle strength, and as I got older, I was unable to maintain the same training regime as before the operation. Interestingly, my chest now appears larger because the improved chest structure provides a better platform for the pectoral muscles!

Learn more about my experience: here.

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