Treatment of Funnel Chest (Pectus Excavatum) with Custom-Made Silicone Prosthesis

Key Advantages

• Computer-assisted pectus excavatum surgery provides a personalized correction tailored precisely to your anatomy.
• Reliable and effective surgical treatment for women is now available.
• Minimally invasive chest wall surgery with a discreet 5 cm scar located under the breast.

Principles of Funnel Chest Treatment

Pectus excavatum, commonly referred to as funnel chest, is the most frequent congenital deformity of the anterior chest wall. It involves a depression of the central chest (sternum), often combined with excessive curvature of the costal cartilages. Although typically not functionally limiting, it can cause considerable psychological and aesthetic distress.

This condition affects around 1% of the population—mostly males—and usually becomes apparent during growth. According to Chin’s classification, pectus excavatum is divided into three types:

• Type 1: Symmetrical depression limited to the sternum.
• Type 2: Symmetrical deformity involving the pectoral areas.
• Type 3: Asymmetrical deformity extending to the pectoral muscles.

Surgical Options

1. Sternochondroplasty

Performed by thoracic surgeons, this involves cutting and restructuring the costal cartilage and sternum, often stabilized with titanium plates. It’s a major, painful procedure reserved for patients with significant respiratory issues. The less invasive Nuss procedure, which places a convex titanium rod to elevate the sternum, is sometimes used in adolescents (ages 13–18) but is increasingly rare in France.

2. Custom-Made Silicone Prosthesis

This is our main technique, designed for patients primarily concerned with aesthetics. A solid silicone implant—custom-designed via 3D imaging from a high-resolution CT scan—is inserted either beneath the skin or under the pectoral muscles. Manufactured by  IMPLANTECH designed by ANATOMIK MODELING, these durable implants are non-liquid and cannot rupture.

3. Lipofilling (Fat Injection)

Used occasionally for mild deformities, lipofilling involves fat grafting and requires multiple sessions as well as adequate fat reserves—conditions rarely met in slim, athletic individuals.

Technological Advances

Traditional methods used plaster molds to shape implants, which posed limitations, especially in women or for asymmetrical deformities (Type 3). Today, we rely entirely on 3D models created from volumetric CT scans, allowing us to craft implants with millimeter precision.

Once fabricated, the implant is inserted under endoscopic guidance. It is typically placed beneath the skin over the sternum and under the pectoral muscle on the sides. Thanks to 15+ years of experience and hundreds of successful cases, we’ve refined our approach:

• No central abdominal scars—just one small incision beneath the right breast.
• We no longer suture the pectoral muscles in the center, avoiding visible muscle contractions.
• The lower edge of the implant is stabilized under the rectus abdominis muscle sheath.

Practical Information

Preoperative Steps:

A pre-anesthesia consultation is required at least 48 hours before surgery.

A consultation with your surgeon is necessary to explain the procedure, risks, and expectations.

You’ll undergo a thoracic CT scan and receive a quote from IMPLANTECH designed by ANATOMIK MODELING.

A custom compression garment will be prescribed.

The implant design and production take about 1 month after scan analysis.

To learn more about pectus excavatum treatment on the Anatomik Modeling website, click here.