PECTUS TREATMENT WITH 3D SILICONE IMPLANT
3D Silicone Implant placement can be applied in the treatment of Pectus Excavatum and Poland Syndromes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How Does 3D Silicone Implant Provide Benefits?
For the shoemaker’s chest, the cavity in the rib cage is filled with silicone material, just like in breast silicone surgeries. These silicone materials are produced individually, based on the patient’s tomography images, in a specially shaped form. After production, a small surgery is performed to place the silicone material under the skin and muscle tissue, but above the sunken sternum, and the breast is given a smooth appearance.
In Poland Syndrome, the visual problem caused by the absence of the pectoral muscles, which is the main problem, is eliminated by filling this muscle with a silicone material, which is also produced specifically for the person.
What are the Advantages of Pectus Excavatum Treatment with 3D Silicone Implants Compared to Nuss and Ravitch Surgery?
Its greatest advantage is that the chest cavity is not entered. In addition, the patient’s recovery process after the surgery is quite easy and painless. The patient can return to normal life immediately after the surgery. Because it is not a procedure that causes pain like bone removal. The third great advantage is that the silicone placed does not need to be removed again, so the patient does not need another surgery for this reason throughout his life. In Nuss surgery, a separate surgery is needed after 3 years to remove the bars. Another advantage of silicone placement surgery is that there is no risk of life-threatening complications such as heart injury or serious bleeding, which are rarely seen in Nuss surgery.
To whom do you recommend surgery with silicone implants?
First of all, it is definitely more advantageous to place a silicone implant through a small incision instead of a major surgery and more incisions, such as muscle pulling from the back to the front, which is routinely used in Poland Syndrome. Therefore, I recommend it to all Poland Syndrome patients.
For those with a cobbler’s chest who are under the age of 17, non-surgical treatments (Vacuum, physical therapy and diet therapy) are always our priority. However, when the cartilage at the patient’s bone ends hardens (medically known as the closure of the epiphyseal plates), in other words, when the patient stops growing (which corresponds to approximately 17-18 years of age), there is no non-surgical treatment option left. Therefore, our first choice at this age is to move the bone to its correct place with Nuss (closed surgery) or Ravitch (open surgery) techniques if Nuss cannot be performed. Thus, the heart and lung compression is eliminated, the patient’s posture disorder is corrected, and palpitations and easy fatigue problems are eliminated.
However, Nuss and Ravitch surgeries have some risks and difficulties for the patient. For example, after the Nuss surgery, the patient needs to receive pain treatment for 1 month, their movements are restricted and they need care. They cannot do any sports for the next 3-6 months, and there are restrictions on the sports they will do for the next 3 years when the bar will come out. Silicone implants are ideal for individuals who do not have the time for a one-month recovery after surgery due to reasons such as school or work, or who do not have anyone to look after them, and for individuals who are involved in a sport and want to continue doing sports. Some families and patients do not want to take the risk of heart injury, which is very rare in the Nuss surgery, although it is unlikely. In this patient group, it may not be appropriate for the patient to remain with a shoemaker’s chest. Because we offer the patient an option to get rid of the patient’s lack of self-confidence, “Psychological Deformity” and the bad appearance of the deformity in terms of aesthetics.
So how many years has this method been used and is it a preferred method in the world?
In truth, this method has been widely used in Europe for years, unfortunately we, Turkish doctors, have been late in adapting it. It is a widespread method that Professor Dr. Chavoin, the president of the European Plastic Surgery Association in France, has applied to over 800 patients for over 35 years. The silicones have been in his patients for 35 years and the patients continue their lives without any problems. There are no life-threatening complications. He makes presentations at all international scientific meetings. Moreover, it has been widely applied not only by Dr. Chavoin but also throughout Europe for years.
