Periareolar Incision for Pectus Excavatum

Pectus excavatum is a congenital deformity of the chest. Several surgical techniques have been used for the repair of pectus excavatum to avoid postural, cardiac, lung, and psychosocial developmental disorders. Many incision techniques have been introduced to reduce scar formation and keloid development. In the authors’ clinic, a crescent-shaped periareolar incision is utilized for minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE). If an MIRPE procedure is performed with bilateral periareolar incisions, satisfactory cosmetic results can be obtained. From a distance of 1-2 meters, this method yields a hardly noticeable scar.

The authors believe that in the near future this periareolar incision will be used widely in male patients, for many different thoracic surgery operations. It is the authors’ aim to create a multidisciplinary effort with plastic surgeons to reduce scar formation and improve patient satisfaction.