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This Iowan man, Brandon, was born with pectus excavatum, a medical condition where his breastbone sinks into his chest, creating a concave region in the center of his torso.
Although the condition began to plague him back when he was only eight years old, it was only diagnosed when he was 19.
It was only then that Brandon finally went to the doctor to get an implant inserted into his chest. The implant would help reform and improve the shape of his chest.
Unfortunately, 16 years later, the implant began giving Brandon a new problem.
Several years prior, fluid began building up around the implant several years ago, and Brandon decided that he would relieve the problem himself, rather than consult a doctor. He purchased a syringe online and drained the fluid – all without any medical assistance or advice.
Thankfully, Brandon decided to stop practicing his at-home treatment because he was “worried for [his] life.”
When Brandon finally returned to the doctors to address this fluid buildup, his doctors, Paul Nassif and Terry Dubrow, were shocked to discover a severe infection in the area. It was “a major disaster waiting to happen,” and a miracle that it hadn’t already begun bothering Brandon.
Another doctor, Dr. Barry Losasso, was brought in to address Brandon’s persisting pectus excavatum.
After much deliberation, the three doctors decided to remove the original implant and perform the Nuss procedure to install metal bars into Brandon’s chest that would keep it from caving inward.
Dr. Losasso’s goal was to “put [Brandon’s] chest wall in its proper relationship with [his] heart.” They wanted “to lift the deepest part of the deformity up off the heart.”
Two months after Brandon underwent both procedures – the first to remove his implant and the second to perform the Nuss procedure – he was finally able to show his wife the outcome.
Brandon’s chest is now, finally, flat and without any signs of swelling or caving.
The father of one is relieved to know that this medical problem will no longer bother him for the rest of his life. “It was really important to me to have this corrected now so that I don't have to worry about later on being around for my daughter,” he said. “And don’t worry…” he added, “I’ll never practice medicine on myself again.”
