Pectus Deformity Correction (Nuss & Ravitch)
A sunken (excavatum) or protruding (carinatum) chest is not just a cosmetic concern - in many cases it squeezes the heart and lungs. Modern surgery corrects the shape and the function.
What pectus deformities are
Pectus is a growth problem of the chest wall present from birth. In excavatum the sternum sinks inward like a funnel; in carinatum it pushes outward like a pigeon breast.
Beyond appearance, many teenagers and adults get breathless on exercise, tired, palpitations, or pain because the sunken bone presses on the heart. The deformity often grows obvious during the teenage growth spurt.
Two proven surgeries fix these. The Nuss procedure bends a steel bar under the sternum through small cuts to hold the chest in a corrected position. The modified Ravitch reshapes the cartilage directly. Both deliver a permanent, natural-looking chest.
The different forms
Pectus excavatum
Sunken chest - the commonest form. It can compress the heart and affect stamina.
Pectus carinatum
Protruding, pigeon-chest shape. Usually less functional impact but very visible.
Bar removal after Nuss
After 2-3 years the support bar is removed in a short second procedure.
Adult correction
Doable at any age - results remain excellent with correct planning.
Watch real cases from our operating theatre
Dr Ahmad Ali explains the condition and surgery in simple words.
How you know you have it
Typical symptoms
- Breathlessness with exercise
- Easy fatigue and reduced stamina
- Palpitations, especially lying on the back
- Self-consciousness and low confidence about the chest shape
When to seek help urgently
- Severe chest pain with breathing
How it is confirmed
Clinical Examination
The shape and symmetry of the chest are carefully assessed.
CT Chest
Measures the depth of the depression and its effect on the heart.
ECG + Echo
Checks whether the heart is being compressed and how it functions.
Lung Function Test
Quantifies your breathing capacity before surgery.
The procedures Dr Ahmad Ali performs
The exact technique is selected from your CT and examination - keyhole Nuss or precision Ravitch.
Nuss Procedure
- What it is — A curved metal bar is placed under the sternum through two small side cuts, lifting the chest to the correct position.
- Eligibility — Symmetrical excavatum in children, teenagers and selected adults.
- Stay — 4-6 days.
- Recovery — Bar stays 2-3 years and is then removed briefly; shape becomes permanent.
Modified Ravitch Procedure
- What it is — The protruding or deformed cartilage is reshaped and the sternum repositioned through a small central incision.
- Eligibility — Carinatum, complex or asymmetrical deformities.
- Stay — 4-6 days.
- Recovery — Final shape appears within months as swelling settles.
Bar Removal
- What it is — A short, planned keyhole procedure to take out the support bar once the chest holds itself.
- Eligibility — All Nuss patients after 2-3 years.
- Stay — Same-day or one-night stay.
- Recovery — Back to daily life in about a week.
Benefits of treatment at ChestExperts
Better breathing and stamina
Freeing the heart and lungs from compression visibly improves exercise capacity.
Permanent shape
The corrected chest becomes your natural shape for life.
Small scars
Nuss uses two tiny cuts; results are neat.
Confidence restored
Patients feel comfortable again in shirts, swimming and sports.
Proven technique
Both Nuss and Ravitch are standard, time-tested operations worldwide.
Age-appropriate plan
From a 10-year-old to a 40-year-old, the plan is tailored to grow and lifestyle.
Thoracic & Chest Surgeon
Meet Dr Ahmad Ali
Specialist thoracic and chest surgeon at Hameed Latif Hospital, Lahore - focused on minimal-pain, minimal-stay surgery, including for Pectus Deformity Correction (Nuss & Ravitch).
Dr Ahmad Ali treats every patient as his own. He first understands the problem completely - your symptoms, your scan and your daily life - before recommending anything. He explains each step simply, in Urdu or English, and never pushes a procedure that is not truly needed.
How he can help with Pectus Deformity Correction (Nuss & Ravitch): He confirms the exact diagnosis, then chooses the least invasive option that is genuinely safe for your stage and performs it with precision, so your recovery is smooth. For most cases, the procedure Dr Ahmad Ali performs here is Nuss Procedure while more advanced disease is handled with Modified Ravitch Procedure.
Bring your reports - he tells you what they really mean, in simple words.
Only the tests that are genuinely needed are ordered - no extra burden.
The safest option for your exact stage, with clear and transparent cost.
The procedure, then careful follow-up until you are fully recovered.
Unhappy with your chest shape?
Come and see if pectus is affecting your breathing or confidence - and what a single procedure can change.