There are 2 types of surgical correction offered at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow. The Modified Ravitch Procedure which is an open repair and The Nuss Procedure which is a minimally invasive repair using Nuss bars.
The majority of the patients with pectus excavatum are appropriate for the Nuss procedure however the decision is at the discretion of the Surgeon. Both procedures require a general anaesthetic and a hospital stay of 5 -7 days.
The Modified Ravitch Procedure
The Modified Ravitch procedure is an operation where the affected part of the chest is exposed to allow the Surgeon to remove the abnormally shaped cartilage ribs.
It requires the sternum (breast bone) to be divided and fixed in its new position with a titanium bar. This does not need to be removed but can be on request. The scar is normally vertical over the sternum however in certain cases can be modified to be less obvious as shown.
The Nuss Procedure
The Nuss Procedure, a minimally invasive approach to correcting pectus excavatum, involves surgeons inserting a curved metal bar or bars under the ribs and sternum to reshape the chest wall.
The bar or bars are inserted and directed across the chest under the sternum. It is then flipped 180 degrees, pushing the sternum out to correct the deformity. Once the bar is positioned and the chest has taken the correct shape stabilisers are attached to the bar to connect to the ribs and prevent the bar from slipping. The bars will remain in place for 2-3 years before being removed.
The picture below show a corrected Chest 3 Weeks Following NUSS Procedure.
Mr Carl Davis, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon 
Mr James Andrews, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon