Chest deformities like pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum are quite common in teenagers. Particularly in an age of social media and body shaming, the physical appearance of both conditions can be very challenging for some adolescents.
LOC clinicians are very much aware of this as we have discussed the psychological impact with parents and directly with patients. Patients are unwilling to take their t-shirts off, go swimming or put themselves in any position where they might reveal their chests.
Not surprisingly both parents and teenagers are looking for an answer. Surgery on the NHS used to be an option but even before the pandemic that option had become increasingly unavailable since the condition was deemed to be largely cosmetic and no risk to physical health.
LOC has been offering a non-surgical solution to the problem since 2010. Our treatment combines bespoke chest braces with a very specific set of exercises.
Pectus Excavatum, also known as 'funnel' or 'sunken' chest, is where the breast bone is pushed abnormally inward.
It is the most common form of congenital chest deformity which tends to become exaggerated during puberty where growth spurts cause the cartilage and bones to grow at a rapid rate.
For patients considering LOC’s non-surgical treatment for pectus excavatum, we offer the opportunity for an initial free consultation via Skype, Facetime or Zoom.
Pectus carinatum, also known as 'pigeon chest' is a congenital deformity of the anterior chest wall, and occurs when the breast bone is pushed outward by an abnormal overgrowth of cartilage.
Orthotic bracing is proven to be a safe and effective way to provide successful outcomes without surgical intervention.
For patients considering LOC’s non-surgical treatment for pectus carinatum, we offer a free virtual consultation.
LOC's pectus treatment is non-surgical and involves wearing a bespoke brace or orthosis called a 'Dynamic Chest Compressor', combined with a programme of Yoga exercises that have been developed specifically to augment our non-surgical treatment.
Most NHS trusts no longer recommend surgery for pectus carinatum and pectus carinatum as the conditions are considered to be cosmetic and no threat to physical health.
Our experience and development of custom-made braces has led to many patient success stories.
LOC's non-surgical treatment for pectus involves the Dynamic Chest Compressor, a custom made orthosis designed for an individual’s anatomy to specifically treat their particular type of pectus. For Pectus Excavatum patients we also prescribe the Vacuum Bell - it works by using a silicone cup and a vacuum pump to create an area of low pressure over the sunken part of the chest.
We manufacture bespoke braces for each patient, ensuring comfort and ease of compliance during treatment.
We offer free virtual pectus consultations to examine your chest and your general posture.
During this appointment, you will be asked to do various exercises so that one of our specialist pectus clinicians can establish how flexible your chest wall is. Our treatment programme will be explained in detail as patient compliance can be key to a successful outcome.
The consultation will also allow you to ask your own questions so you can see whether LOC’s treatment is right for you.
Information about our pectus carinatum case histories.
The London Orthotic Consultancy has been providing non-surgical pectus treatment since 2010 achieving positive results in our patients.
We are proud to be the pioneers of this treatment in the UK and are happy to share some patient successes for those who have undergone treatment with us
The London Orthotic Consultancy has been providing non-surgical pectus treatment since 2010 achieving positive results in our patients.
We are proud to be the pioneers of this treatment in the UK and are happy to share some patient successes for those who have undergone Pectus Excavatum treatment with us.
LOC director and pectus specialist, Sam Walmsley, has recorded a series of videos answering our client's frequently asked questions about our pectus treatments and exercise programmes.
For patients who want to avoid surgery, non-surgical pectus treatment can be a great way to achieve a flatter chest, but often, patients are unsure of what treatment involves.
We offer orthotic treatment for international patients seeking non-surgical pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum bracing in the UK. Our specialist clinicians have extensive experience treating pectus deformity patients from around the world.
We regularly treat international patients with our evidence-based orthotics including those from Europe, South America and the Middle East.
Dr Haje was widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the non-surgical treatment of pectus deformities.
LOC's treatment follows the methods of Dr Haje, who visited the UK to train LOC's clinicians in the Haje method in 2010 and 2011. He sadly passed away in the summer of 2012.
Information and prices for our pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum treatment packages. All fees associated with your treatment are included, such as appointments required for the duration of treatment. We also offer the opportunity to have a free virtual pectus consultation to examine your chest and your general posture.
Rib flaring is where the ribs of the chest protrude outward, causing a noticeable bulge on the sides of the chest. The condition is common in pectus excavatum patients and can exacerbate chest deformity. Flared ribs can be treated with a bespoke rib flaring brace which moves the ribs back into a corrective position over time.
There is no unified opinion on causation, but there is evidence to suggest that both pectus excavatum and pectus carinatum can be inherited conditions.
We are indebted to the late Dr Haje for the information that follows. Dr Haje was widely regarded as the world's leading authority on the non-surgical treatment of pectus deformities.
We have summarised his audit of the 4,346 patients he treated in the following page.
Above: Dr Haje training LOC staff in 2010
The London Orthotic Consultancy's pectus treatment is non-surgical and involves wearing a bespoke brace or orthosis called a 'Dynamic Chest Compressor', combined with a programme of daily exercises. LOC has pioneered this method of treatment in the UK.
Although the optimum age for non-surgical treatment is during puberty, the key determining factor is the pliability of the chest wall so older patients can also benefit if there is a ‘give’ in their chest wall.
For further information about our non-surgical treatment programme and the use of orthoses, read about our non-surgical pectus treatment.
Most NHS trusts no longer recommend surgery for pectus carinatum and pectus carinatum as the conditions are considered to be cosmetic and no threat to physical health. Privately the type of surgery performed in the UK is either the Nuss or Ravitch procedures. The Nuss procedure is minimally invasive compared to the Ravitch.
Good results have been reported from both types of surgery and patients are generally pleased with the improvement in chest shape. However, these procedures do not address the problem of rib flaring, which is fairly common, and patients can be left with visible surgical scarring.
Read more about treatment for pectus deformities.
I had my initial consultation with Sam Walmsley (Lead Orthotist & Director of LOC) in early January 2020 and was immediately pleased with his realism and non-sales-ey approach. Sam was the real deal, and I ... continue reading ...
Michael started noticing his Pectus Excavatum when he was 8 years old, treatment is not recommended at this age so his parents waited to see if it would correct naturally. It was actually during lockdown when Hilary (Michael’s mum) started to research possible treatment options ... continue reading ...
Daisy was X-rayed and diagnosed with mild scoliosis of nine degrees. They also confirmed that she had pectus carinatum but advised that, as they considered this a cosmetic issue, we should simply monitor it and take no further action” ... continue reading ...
Recently we had a 14-year-old pectus patient who attended The London Orthotic Consultancy for treatment for his pectus carinatum inferior with rib flaring after only being offered surgical solutions on the NHS ... continue reading ...
Jamie consulted his GP and was told about the option of surgery but was soon put off by the risk of scarring and lengthy recovery time. It was while on a beach holiday - and feeling particularly self-conscious ... continue reading ...
Through bracing treatment with the dynamic chest compressor, Jack has achieved 90% correction in his pectus carinatum after only two months. Here, mum describes Jack's non-surgical treatment journey.
Baby Iyad's plagiocephaly was classed as 'severe' yet was treated in just 3 months of wearing the LOCband Lite helmet.
Baby Tal's mother explains why she insisted on getting the Cunningham Brace to treat her son’s club foot
A mother of one of our patients shares her perspective on what it's like being a parent to a child with spina bifida.
Just over two years since the LOCband Lite's launch, we’ve successfully treated our 500th helmet therapy patient, Billy, with our innovative 3D-printed cranial band.
In recognition of the national National Foot Drop Awareness Day, we share some facts about this condition as well as case histories of patients who are currently using orthotics to help treat it.
New bespoke AFOs help get Grace, who has cerebral palsy, out of her wheelchair and back walking again.
Baby Ada’s severe brachycephaly improves thanks to LOC’s cranial remoulding helmet therapy.
