When Is It Too Late for Vacuum Bell Treatment? | Pectus Excavatum and Dynamic Vacuum Innovation

In the treatment of pectus excavatum (sunken chest), the vacuum bell device is one of the most effective non-surgical methods available. Yet, one of the most common questions patients ask is:

“Will vacuum therapy still work for me?”

Key Factors Determining the Success of Vacuum Bell Therapy

Age Factor

In vacuum bell therapy, the flexibility of the chest wall is a decisive factor.

• Ages 8–16:The cartilage tissue is still soft, so treatment response is very high. The use of dynamic vacuum systems can further shorten the treatment period.

• Ages 17–25:The success rate remains high, but longer and more consistent use is required. Most patients in this group benefit significantly from dynamic vacuum pump systems.

• After age 25:As the chest wall becomes stiffer, the goal shifts from complete correction to visible aesthetic and functional improvement. Even at this stage, dynamic vacuum systems can still provide meaningful results.

Therefore, age does not determine whether the therapy will work — it primarily affects how long treatment takes and what pressure levels are applied.

Other Factors Influencing Success

• Regular use:Using the device for 4+ hours per day instead of just 1–2 hours significantly improves outcomes.

• Negative pressure level:The suction strength should be adjusted according to the patient’s age and deformity level.The dynamic vacuum pump’s ability to maintain strong and stable negative pressure directly impacts treatment success.

• Skin and tissue tolerance:Start with short sessions and gradually increase duration. This allows the skin to adapt to longer periods of use without irritation.

Clinical Findings

In a 2022 multicenter study, even among patients aged 18–30,

• 65% achieved visible improvement, and

• 45% showed measurable (objective) correction (Frontiers in Pediatrics, 2022).

This demonstrates that with regular use and the right device, vacuum bell therapy remains effective even in adults.

🌀 Advantages of Dynamic Vacuum Pump

In recent years, dynamic pump-based vacuum bell systems have introduced a major innovation in the treatment of pectus excavatum.Known as “dynamic vacuum”, this system provides stronger negative pressure than traditional manual pumps while maintaining that pressure stably over time through an internal regulation mechanism.

As a result, treatment duration is shortened in mild to moderate sunken chest cases, while patients with severe deformities or low chest wall flexibility can still benefit from vacuum therapy.

With the dynamic system, pressure levels can be precisely adjusted, and an integrated timer tracks session duration, allowing physicians to create individualized treatment plans.

Compared to standard models, these systems offer a more comfortable, safer, and personalized treatment experience.Clinical observations indicate that dynamic vacuum technologies improve patient compliance and reduce treatment time by an average of 20–30% .

When Might Vacuum Bell Therapy No Longer Be Suitable?

• When the chest wall has completely stiffened and lost flexibility

• When heart or lung compression requires surgical correction

• When skin conditions (such as wounds, acne, or allergies) prevent vacuum application

In such cases, physicians may recommend combined or surgical alternatives instead of vacuum therapy.

Summary

The phrase “It’s too late for vacuum bell therapy” is rarely true.While the process may take longer for adults, significant improvement in chest shape, posture, and breathing capacity is still possible.

Dynamic vacuum technology has made non-surgical pectus excavatum treatment more accessible and comfortable — especially for patients with less flexible chest walls.Starting early is an advantage, but with motivation, consistency, and proper device selection, meaningful results can be achieved at any age.

References

Haecker FM, Mayr J. “Vacuum bell therapy in pectus excavatum: An update.” European Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2022.

Haecker FM et al. “The vacuum bell for treatment of pectus excavatum: long-term results.” Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2020.

Park HJ et al. “Vacuum-assisted correction of pectus excavatum: clinical experience and outcomes.” Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2022.