Is this a mild or severe pectus excavitum. (photos)

An implant may be a reasonable treatment alternative to improve the appearance. A physical exam would be necessary to provide any real suggestions.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Thank you for your question and pictures.First of all, the very severe pectus excavatum deformities are corrected soon after birth.  I should also say that there is a wide variation of chest wall, ribs and chest bone as far as size and indentation are concerned and that no chest wall is completely symmetrical, from right to left.From your picture, I would call your pectus excavatum no more than moderate.I correct the moderate and severe pectus excavatum with custom-made implants.  And for the patients overly concerned about a mild concavity, I will also consider an implant or fat grafting.  In your situation, you are very thin and it would be hard to find enough fat for this and the recipient is also very thin and the fat "take" would likely be deceptive.Hope this helps.Kind regards,Dr Marc DuPere, aesthetic, cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgeon