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View our privacy policyVacuum bell therapy is a non-surgical way to improve pectus excavatum and correct your chest shape.
If you have pectus excavatum (a sunken chest) and want to avoid surgery, vacuum bell treatment (sometimes called vacuum bell therapy) could be a great option for you.
The vacuum bell was invented by Eckart Klobe, a chemical engineering graduate who used it to fix his own sunken chest. It’s a simple device made of a soft silicone cup and a hand pump.
When you place the cup over the sunken part of your chest and pump out the air, it creates a vacuum that gently lifts your breastbone and ribs.
The manual pump sucks air out of the device to create a vacuum over the sunken area of the chest. This pulls the breastbone (sternum) and ribs outward, gradually reshaping the chest. Over time, this helps guide your chest back into a more natural shape.
Using the vacuum bell is easy, but it takes commitment to get the best results. Here’s how you do it:
We normally advise wearing the vacuum bell cup for two to three hours immediately after the daily exercise program, when the chest is most flexible. This maximises the effect of the corrective forces.
Our pioneering package for pectus excavatum includes the following:
Treatment for adolescent pectus excavatum patients typically takes between 18 months to 24 months to complete, though this differs from patient to patient and depends on:
Using the vacuum bell regularly and/or wearing your rib flaring brace consistently will lead to better results. The more committed you are to following the prescribed wearing routine, the more effective the treatment will be.
This treatment works best for children and teenagers, as your chest is still growing and more flexible. Though adults can see results if their chest is flexible enough.
The best way to find out if the vacuum bell is right for you is to took an appointment with one of our pectus clinicians.
At the London Orthotic Consultancy, we support people who have been assessed with pectus excavatum or rib flaring and are considering non-surgical management options.
Since 2010, we’ve been providing pectus bracing services in the UK. Each treatment plan is personalised and may include bespoke exercises, vacuum bell therapy and a rib flaring brace depending on your individual needs and following assessment.
We’re happy to answer any questions you might have, with no commitment to proceed with treatment.
