Pectus Excavatum & Weight Loss [2023]: Fat Grafting + 4 Tips

Pectus excavatum weight loss can represent two extremes.

Some of us will lose weight because the deformity will physically and mentally affect our lives. The worry can reduce appetite leading to weight loss and becoming skinny.

Others, especially people with pectus excavatum who are older and inactive, have extra body fat, and weight loss is a goal for them. The excess fat in their belly further worsens their physical appearance. Their chest looks more sunken, and their belly looks more significant than it is.

Read on to see what you can do regarding what problem with weight loss you experience.

If You’re Skinny, Improve Your Sunken Chest!

Pectus excavatum can show mild, nonexistent, or severe symptoms. Weight loss usually happens to those whose indentation is more severe.

According to a study, patients with pectus excavatum have lower height and weight before they decide to have a Nuss procedure than the general population.

Two years postoperatively, these metrics recover to levels comparable to those of the general population. Those effects happen immediately before bar removal.

The study concluded that the Nuss procedure could contribute positively to the physical development of patients with pectus excavatum.

By raising the sternum, the Nuss procedure releases the organs from compression. This results in better blood flow throughout the body. It may allow people with pectus excavatum to regain physical development and gain weight automatically.

Exercise, however, has the potential to stop weight loss by improving muscle mass. Perform the best weightlifting exercises for pectus excavatum, and your weight will increase.

Although exercising consistently will likely require more time than having a Nuss procedure to correct the deformity, it will unquestionably be a long-term solution with many advantages.

Losing Weight Because You’re Overweight

Significant body fat or being overweight is a health issue that raises the chance of severe health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and several malignancies.

The whole quality of life might suffer from obesity.

As you may already know, deformity causes many problems. When you add the issues of extra body fat, things get a lot messier.

Chain Reaction of Problems

Physical activities you used to enjoy might not be possible or enjoyable anymore because of the extra body weight. Your heart and lung functioning can suffer more, worsening the deformity’s physical symptoms.

This will cause a chain reaction of problems you should avoid at all costs. You will then be more ashamed of your physical appearance, avoiding exposing your physique in front of others.

It can even affect your social life, which will transition to worsening the psychological symptoms of the deformity.

Being Overweight Will Harm Your Health

High blood pressure and abnormal cholesterol levels, risk factors for heart disease and strokes, are more likely to occur in obese people.

You’ll also be more prone to experience sleep apnea, a potentially dangerous condition connected with a sunken chest, in which breathing periodically pauses and resumes while asleep.

It is essential to understand how postural alterations affect obese patients. The ventilatory function is already compromised while awake and seated.

Overweight people with pectus excavatum, particularly those with central obesity, can have a reduced lung volume.

Being Overweight Makes Pectus Excavatum More Obvious

Finally, there are problems with visual appearance. The pectus excavatum dent can become even more visible when you have a pot belly.

Given these potential issues, taking action and protecting your health are critical.

4 Ways to Make a Change

Each individual knows their body best. Therefore, if you believe your current lifestyle, food, exercise, and anything else are causing you problems, it is time to change.

Here are a few main steps that may be a good starting point for you:

Increase Your Level of Physical Activity

Being physically active is essential for weight loss. It is best to exercise. An active lifestyle can help burn off excess calories.

Finding an activity that you enjoy and can fit into your schedule when you’re busy can be a big step for someone with pectus excavatum.

You may be worried that you start slow. Don’t worry. Your body will adapt, and you will gradually begin to do more challenging workouts.

Mind Pump TV shows strength training provides the most bang for your buck out of all other physical activities. It is the best option if you have limited time and can only do it a few times a week.

It is also recommended to consult your doctor about any new workout plans you want to follow.

But, if lifting weights is not an option, practicing cardio routines like walking, running, cycling, or swimming might help you lose weight and improve your overall health and pectus excavatum.

Drink Plenty of Water

Don’t confuse the feelings of thirst and hunger.

You may consume extra calories when only a glass of water destroys the feeling of hunger. Water is a healthy and inexpensive way to quench your thirst or hunger at any moment. It contains zero calories.

Avoid Junk Food At Any Cost

Avoid junk food. If overweight, please stop eating chocolate, cookies, chips, and sugary beverages. Instead, try some healthier alternatives. In my experience, it is best not to buy any of those foods. I find it hard to resist eating junk food when I have it in my house.

It may be challenging to modify your diet habit at first, but the benefits are far more significant and well worth the effort.

Plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks for the week, keeping in mind your calorie allowance. Making a weekly grocery list may be helpful.

Eating the correct amount of protein is necessary for maintaining your health and muscle mass when losing weight.

Protein consumption improves cardiometabolic risk factors.

Get Sufficient Sleep

Sleep is vital for various reasons, and lack of sleep is one of the leading risk factors for weight gain.

The research discovered that not getting enough sleep causes people to consume larger quantities of all meals, leading to weight gain. They also found that not getting enough sleep leads to increased desires for energy-dense, high-carbohydrate foods.

Stress Levels and Obesity

Many physical symptoms of chronic stress can include headaches, upset stomach, high blood pressure, and chest pain.

It can affect the quality of life in both men and women.

You may have sexual activity, sleep, energy, and motivation issues by reduced testosterone levels in the body because of stress.

Stress can also cause emotional problems, sadness, panic attacks, and many forms of anxiety and worry.

Stress can produce negative thoughts that can affect our lives. We need to learn a way to reframe those thoughts.

The healing process will be significantly slower if you are desperate because you have a concave chest and pot belly.

It is evident that this is far more difficult in practice, but believe me when I say it is crucial. Our emotional state requires an outlet.

Because stress symptoms can affect your body, thoughts, feelings, and even behavior, trying to recognize any signs of it might assist you in managing them. Unmanaged and cultivated stress can lead to various health problems, including obesity.

Fat Grafting Process

Structural fat grafting is a procedure that transfers fat from one or more parts of the body to another. It can enhance specific body regions while reducing extra fat from others.

Males with pectus excavatum can benefit from structural fat grafting a lot.

This process can improve the overall appearance of your upper body because structural fat grafting can fill in the hollow chest areas for a better appearance.

Doctors usually take excess fat from the abdomen in pectus cases. They remove the fat through liposuction.

If you choose to undergo fat grafting, you must maintain good health and maintain a stable and regular weight because patients are rarely too skinny.

Structural fat grafting operations typically take two to five hours, but the length determines the amount of fat transferred.

You may experience bruising, swelling, and discomfort throughout your recovery process.

This surgery at least corrects your chest’s aesthetic issues, giving you a more natural, defined appearance and less visible pectus excavatum indentation.