sorry for replying so late just going trough some tough times.

1.yes I always pump it to the max.

2.I only don t use it when I’m at a sleepover or somethin

3.My doctor told me I don t really need the surgery and I measured it and it was like 1,8 cm in the deepest point and now is like 1,5 I think but it still looks very bad to me

4. I don t really know what flared ribs are but my highest right rib is a bit in too so it makes the hole look bigger.

5. My posture is good cause i did physiotherapy for like 6 months I don t know how to explain it but my doctor said my column is straight but is going a bit to the left.

6. my hole is not in the middle is a bit in my right part of the chest and it is going upward and that s why I was saying that it s pretty hard to cover all the area with my vaccum bell and I think I’ll get a bigger one.

I just want to thank you a lot you gave me a lot of motivation and you are right I’ll keep trying if it’s not gonna work it’s just not gonna work and I can always do the surgery way. It’s just that people cutting and putting a bar in me is just to scary for me but maybe I’ll be able to handle it when the time comes. Thanks a lot I’ll keep you updated if you don t forget about me of course.

Hello David,

Thank you for your comment. I am glad you’ve taken a huge step in improving your deformity non-surgically by investing in a vacuum bell. I am happy that you’re very motivated to improve the deformity. Good job on applying the vacuum bell consistently. That is very important.

I have a few questions for you:

1. Do you gradually increase the number of pumps you do with your vacuum bell? You need to increase the vacuum pressure with time so that the sternum will stay elevated more.

2. Do you use it every day consistently, even on days when you feel like you don’t want to apply it?

3. How severe is your sunken chest deformity? Did your doctor tell you it affects your lungs and heart?

4. Do you have flared ribs in addition to your sunken chest?

5. How is your posture, did you try yoga and pilates?

6. Is your deformity broad or localized (for example localized is when it is deep at one point but flatter in other areas, and vice versa)

Don’t give up. You’re doing all the right things. I know it can feel unmotivating on some days, and giving up is the only thing that crosses your mind. In a few months, you will be glad you didn’t quit now and you grinded through the process to improve the deformity. Because of that, I always recommend my clients to take progress pictures of their chest and measure their indentation frequently.

That way, the progress will be seen when you compare the before and afters, or when you see the measurements difference. Seeing the change on the mirror is very hard, especially if you look in the mirror every single day. Dr. Sydney Haje also mentioned that surgery should be the last option. Try everything in your powers to improve it non-surgically first; if everything fails, you can always undergo surgery.

However, I believe you will improve it non-surgically and that you won’t need to undergo surgery if you are disciplined enough and dedicated to improve it daily. Physiotherapy is more than standing tall. It will change how your physique functions, and you can breathe deeper and avoid injury if you started doing strength training. I also hated physiotherapy when I was your age, because it hurt a lot, but I stayed disciplined and it improved my posture that suffered from video games.

Stay strong,
Mihail.