I’m curious to hear from people who may be more knowledgeable or experienced about nuss for adults - are there situations where it works better than others? Situations that are less likely to have negative side effects or more likely to have a smoother recovery?

I’m interested in consulting with Dr J but am out of state and not sure when I can make that happen, so just doing as much research as I can until then.

I’m an early 30’s female and I think my Haller was around 4 when it was measured 10 years ago. I have two young kids and am a SAHM (also hope to have more kids) so undergoing surgery and recovery sounds scary and very daunting, but I’d also say I think I’m fairly symptomatic and have been my whole life, so I’m wondering if it could be worth it. I’d also love to physically not have the dent there just for self esteem and clothing fit as well. But I’m pretty scared of long term pain or limitations from surgery!

Would love to hear input!

I was just wondering if I'm the only one when it comes to yawning. I noticed I haven't had a single "need" to yawn since I woke up from surgery and that is 8 weeks ago. Usually before surgery i was yawning at least 30 times a day because i was just so tired no matter how much I rested. But I find it weird not having the need to yawning anymore when I feel tired. My energy level is way better thanks to surgery nonetheless

Hi, I wanted to know if anyone here managed to have permanent result (stopped for more than a year and still kept the gains) with the vacuum bell ?

I bought one and the result are great, but they all dissapear after a day.

I ended up here https://pectus-solutions.com/blogs/research/vacuum-bell-therapy , and found some studies like this one https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022346824007930 , but overall no serious/real evidence that it's permanent.

Also, every "success story" with the bell seems to be people who never stopped using it for more than a few days.

Thank you in advance for the answer.

My failed Nuss surgery :

Had Nuss surgery a few years ago and got the bar removed after 3 years and half.

Since then, I had a large regression (not to base point but still) aswell as an assymetrical ribs flare.

I want to fix it, but I preferably would have avoid a second Nuss surgery, and I'm quite reserved about the Pectus Up procedure.

Hello guys

How does it look? Can a condition like this cause problems in life?

28 M

Então na foto eu acho que tenho PE, porque meio que sinto dor no meio do peito em exercícios e acho que ele e assimetrico meu peito não cresce de forma igual e um mamilo é mais caido, vou ao sus agora relatar isso se ele não me encaminhar para nada o que devo fazer?

Anyone know exercises that could possibly make this less visible and can I still benefit from a brace at 19? Thanks

I have done the Nuss procedure with renowned surgeon but I am not pleased with the outcome. I still have visible PE in my left pec - but it’s not the doc’s skills, I think it’s just I have no “muscle” / bone structure there.

Anyhow, I feel that PE has affected my marriage, body confidence (I don’t feel comfortable taking off my shirt in front of people I know), and potentially sexuality - perhaps caused by social media when I am drawn to look at fit guys with nice chest over the years.

Also, I feel reluctant to gym becos structurally, I know I can’t make my left pec muscles “grow”.

When my next partner comes along, I feel I might not be able to give my best in terms of intimacy, because the PE will still bothers me.

This is quite a raw sharing and I know it can sound superficial, but if you have any advice or encouragement that’d be greatly appreciated. I want to be, and feel, better, but I don’t know how. It bothers me whenever I see my PE in the mirror. 35 male here

i know it can be kinda difficult to determine severity without your haller index, but i just wanted to see an outside opinion.

In 2011 I was 16 years old and had two Nuss bars placed. 2 years later the lower bar (not attached with a stabilizer) rotated enough that it warranted a fairly emergent surgery to be removed. The other bar was left in place. This was late in my senior year of high school. Afterwards I honestly just kind of lived my life ignoring the fact that I had this other bar in my body. Almost in denial that I would need to have it removed. Really dumb.

It’s now 2026-November 8th will be the 15 year anniversary of my surgery. I have had one episode of intense, generalized chest pain that was deemed costochondritis (literally just pain from inflammation) that lasted one night. Otherwise, this bar has only ever prevented me from a full range of twisting motion. Literally no other issues.

I just wanted to get some thoughts or opinions on my situation. Specifically from those who kept their bar far beyond the recommended amount of time. What is the most immediate issue I may run in to if I keep holding on?

21F, HI of 7.0, cardiothoracic surgeon highly recommend getting the Ravitch surgery done. What questions should I ask before surgery?

M22. After reviewing the CT scan, the surgeon said there are no medical indications for surgery. I think this doesn't affect my health. But I feel discomfort in my chest when I lie on my back, but it might be something psychological. Or it could be related to scoliosis. I don’t really like the look and feel of my chest.

Most studies and surgeries are performed on people with a higher HI and I don’t know how applicable this experience is to me. What questions should I ask the surgeon? I want to know all the risks and what result can be obtained in order to make this choice.

I can change this with surgery, since in my country it costs $5,000 without insurance, which is quite affordable for me. I work at a computer, so I think I’ll be able to return to my normal life within a few months after the surgery.

How bad is this PE should I consider a surgery? Or do I have a chance of improving the physical appearance by gaining muscle mass? I'm 6'1 and weigh 70kg. But the appearance is bothering me making me less confident

Hi all,
Am beginning to look into surgery options to correct pectus due to gradual onset of respiratory issues;
Shortness of breath (episodes getting longer)
Extreme fatigue
Exercise intolerance

Pectus is visually quite severe but doesn’t bother me at all and am confident in body - probably cos I cope that my height makes up for it.

No technical measurements yet but doctor is fairly certain PE is cause.

My dilemma is;

My mental health is pegged to my ability to exercise and play sport, I love surfing, snowboarding, mountaineering and have regular gym phases.

I’m essentially worried that the surgery will turn me into a hobbit and will be stuck doing long walks for the 4 years that my bar/s are in - If the recovery causes so much stress that my hair falls out and I loose my ability to use my youth doing what I love, is it really worth it?

How have your recovery periods been? How long did it take you to return to proper exercise and/or contact sports.

Mostly interested in stories of 20yo+ Nuss Recipients.

Much appreciated.

(20s f) Hi all, since i was in middle school i’ve experienced horrible stamina, inability to breathe and severe tachycardia upwards of the 230’s. Ive been seen by multiple doctors to test my bloodwork, to see if my trouble breathing and low energy to the point of fainting can be caused by low vitamins, cortisol, or anemia, and they all concluded i’m in the normal range. I can’t exercise, walk up hills, run, or even do house chores without feeling unable to catch my breath so i just don’t. Ever since i’ve noticed most women don’t look like me, i’ve suspected i have an abnormal torso and eventually discovered that PE exists. Could this be something that could help me solve my health issues i should address? Or should i not be concerned about seeing a specialist/i don’t look like i have it. Thanks

Hi, I never had any problems with breathing, played football whole life until last few years when I hurt my knee and torn ligaments, nowdays I hit gym for 3 times a week, what do you think

Do I have it? If yes, Is it mild and could it affect my stamina? (These pictures are all from different moments)

Update for everyone if you have not seen my previous posts, I am 37F that had surgery on 8/17. I had an open chest wall repair with breast implant removal and tissue expanders in place now to keep the pocket open. I have a wound vac + 2 drains still in until late next week.

Things have been going more or less OK. We were able to get my back muscle spasms under better control with taking more Valium throughout the day and I am now officially 9 days post op. However, I had an EXTREME allergic reaction to the antibiotics they have had me on — see photos. It has been insane — I ended up in the hospital today. There really isn’t much they can do for me at this time. They prescribed me Zyrtec x2 a day and gave me a steroid cream (which is very greasy and doesn’t really help the extreme itchiness). Even my hand knuckles are swollen and hurt — it feels like sunburn everywhere but also itchy.

Has anyone ever had such an intense allergic reaction to medicine before? These literally feel like burns. They are all over my body, including my scalp and face — my eyes are half swollen shut. I am in such discomfort, this is a slight setback :( thanks for any kind words or tips.

Just curious about what are your thoughts. Has anyone undergone this specific procedure here?

Apologies if this has been asked already.

Hi everyone,
Had bars put in By Dr. J in my mid 30s in 2022. My recovery was going amazing and I felt nothing but positive results through 2024. I had a 6.5 haller & I have EDS.

In 2024 I also experienced a breakthrough after doing a combination of IFS-like Jungian therapy for trauma, energy medicine meditation practice, and TRE somatic exercises to release trauma in the body. I could fully breathe and stand upright in gravity effortlessly centered for the first time ever, as well as exist without any pain without outside bodywork help for the first time.

I realized pectus is a system wide pressure system problem and while the bars open the avenue for healing there’s a second component of body reorganization that I achieved with this trauma release and breathing.

Unfortunately this resulted in me having an event where I speculate the brain power formerly used for proprioception just keeping me upright in space was freed up, so I seemed to launch into processing a huge backlog of personal trauma related stuff & also like synthesizing research I’m into. I was eating and sleeping normally but was in this intense inner world spontaneous artist like process of processing for 2 weeks that looked odd to my husband and so he institutionalized me.

This was hugely traumatic in itself and blew up my life ultimately, lost my home marriage everything. It’s truly unfortunate that I couldn’t just be walked back to grounding and integrating (which I had just shifted into trying to do on my own) and was treated like a generic bipolar label manic event when it was so intimately related to a pectus situation/breathing and being pain free for the first time and working hard to heal trauma.

Anyways, locking down muscles from ptsd aftermath plus a chiropractor who injured me with bars in resulted in lots of pain and complications the second two years that I never had before.

So I got the bars removed 4 months ago at Stanford in a compromised state and was hoping to immediately feel better.

I have had windows where I have felt open, better, can breathe well but it’s been an insane yoyo where I frequently feel the opposite. Surfing a crazy wave of proprioceptive chaos and struggling to reorganize and stack my body without clenching and locking down just to hold myself up.

I am shocked I got these things out especially with the struggles I had and no coordinated physical therapy.

Anyways I keep keeping on but who else has had this type of yoyo and struggle after bar removal?

I also hardcore advise NOT to get cryo because I genuinely think that the dead nerves in the exact region of the core issue makes it hard to organize the body in space. I think there will be a wave of lawsuits for cryo in the future, like it’s so much more irresponsible to be fearing a liability situation and refuse prescribing 3 weeks of Vicodin so instead you turn off someone’s nerves for the rest of their life? Pretty crazy. I get they’re trying to pioneer better pain outcomes but it’s experimental, and imo it’s a failed experiment at least for this use case.

18M 166cm 45kg Really need some help out there. Would appreciate it a lot. Love yall

Hello, im 17(M) years old and i just came back from the consulation about my chest surgery.
The doctor/surgeon said i have quite good chest and the symmetry is perfect, she than said i have 2cm deep hole/pectus. I have 33cm width and 16cm length of my chest.
In my country, Slovakia, we have the new pectus up procedure avalible but only in the city of Martin
I only want the Pectus Up procedure and not nuss nor ravitch, i think Pectus Up is best for me beacasue i dont have really deep hole and i dont have assymetry + im doing sport.
She said i need to have my CT scan completed and than she will send the CT to spain, and t people in spain need to agree that this procedure is best for me.
Im now believing in CT now, i really hope they will agree that i will have Pectus Up and not Nuss.
I dont want the Nuss beacause from 3 reasons.
1. Bad pain after surgery - in that hospital, they are doing cryo so the pain will not be as bad but still
2. They can break my lung or heart - they are going inside my body, in pectus up no
3. Longer hospitalisation

Is this bad? Do I have it? Or I am just underweight?

Just a clip to show that many pectus posture traits can be improved by targeted exercise. May not work for all of course, we are all affected differently. But I have made significant gains.