{"id":1955,"date":"2026-03-23T12:21:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:21:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/?p=1955"},"modified":"2026-03-23T12:27:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T10:27:16","slug":"clinical-and-psychosocial-perspectives-on-chest-wall-deformities-a-comprehensive-analysis-for-pediatric-thoracic-care-in-south-africa-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/en\/2026\/03\/23\/clinical-and-psychosocial-perspectives-on-chest-wall-deformities-a-comprehensive-analysis-for-pediatric-thoracic-care-in-south-africa-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Is it Just Cosmetic? Understanding the Physical Impact of Pectus on Your Child"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1955\" class=\"elementor elementor-1955\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_width_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_padding_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true},&quot;element_pack_global_tooltip_border_radius_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;top&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;right&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;bottom&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;left&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;isLinked&quot;:true}}\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b9148b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6b9148b\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-474526b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"474526b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h6 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Published: 23 March 2026<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e81b20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e81b20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Is it Just Cosmetic? Understanding the Physical Impact of Pectus on Your Child<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-676a71f elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"676a71f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c92323 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c92323\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhile Pectus Excavatum (sunken chest) and Pectus Carinatum (pigeon chest) certainly affect a child&#8217;s appearance and confidence, labeling them as &#8220;purely aesthetic&#8221; overlooks the very real physical toll these conditions can take on a developing body.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab46beb elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ab46beb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1958\" alt=\"Pectus results in shortness of breath and fatigue\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-results-in-breathlessness-and-weaker-lung-capacity-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5f8c000 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5f8c000\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Reduced Lung Capacity and Breathlessness\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b2e7a14 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b2e7a14\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In cases of <\/span><b>Pectus Excavatum<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the sternum is pushed inward. This can physically limit the space available for the lungs to expand fully. You might notice your child:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gets &#8220;winded&#8221; much faster than their peers during sports.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Has difficulty catching their breath after minor exertion.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experiences a persistent, dry cough during physical activity.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2af82fb elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"2af82fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4fa767e elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4fa767e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1960\" alt=\"Pectus heart fatigue heart palpitations, pectus excavatum, Difficulties breathing\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Heart-fatigue-and-tiredness-2-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3976cad elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3976cad\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. The Impact on Heart Efficiency<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-955c398 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"955c398\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the chest wall is severely depressed, it can put pressure on the right ventricle of the heart. While this rarely causes a heart &#8220;attack,&#8221; it can lead to <\/span><b>decreased stroke volume<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, meaning the heart has to work harder to pump the same amount of blood. This often manifests as unexplained fatigue or a racing heart (palpitations) during exercise.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d62708c elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"d62708c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6b86dd7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6b86dd7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1956\" alt=\"Pectus impacts on young people, bad posture and chronic pain\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/pectus-bad-posture-and-chronic-pain-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d425ddc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d425ddc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. The \"Pectus Posture\" and Chronic Pain\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69d25d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"69d25d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children with Pectus often develop a specific posture to compensate for the chest shape, usually rounded shoulders and a &#8220;pot-belly&#8221; appearance (even in very thin children). This isn&#8217;t laziness; it\u2019s a physiological response. Over time, this misalignment can lead to:<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic back and shoulder pain.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tightness in the chest.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recurrent &#8220;stitches&#8221; or side pain during running.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dccdee4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"dccdee4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aab5726 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"aab5726\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"430\" src=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-768x430.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1957\" alt=\"Pectus psychological impacts on teens\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-768x430.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-300x168.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-1024x574.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-1536x861.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Pectus-physcological-effects-on-children-2048x1148.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a0979b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"5a0979b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Emotional \"Physical\" Toll\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ab5c04c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ab5c04c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is also important to recognize that the emotional impact of Pectus has physical consequences. Many children will instinctively &#8220;slouch&#8221; to hide the deformity, which further worsens lung expansion and spinal alignment. The stress of trying to hide their chest at the pool or in the locker room can lead to physical symptoms of anxiety, such as shallow breathing and tension headaches.<\/span><\/p><ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic back and shoulder pain.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tightness in the chest.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recurrent &#8220;stitches&#8221; or side pain during running.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b10ebc elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"1b10ebc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0f00055 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0f00055\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-768x512.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-1959\" alt=\"Pectus - when should I see a specialist\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/when-should-you-see-a-specialist-pectus-2048x1366.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93e8a77 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93e8a77\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When Should You See a Specialist?\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a25e1c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a25e1c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child is showing any of the signs above, it is worth a consultation. Modern diagnostic tools, such as lung function tests and specialized imaging, can determine exactly how much the Pectus is affecting their internal organs.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatment doesn&#8217;t always mean surgery. However, understanding the physical reality of the condition is the first step in ensuring your child grows up healthy, active, and confident.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-209235a elementor-button-info elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"209235a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-float\" href=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/en\/conact-us\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Contact The Pectus Clinic Today<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While Pectus Excavatum (sunken chest) and Pectus Carinatum (pigeon chest) certainly affect a child&#8217;s appearance and confidence, labeling them as &#8220;purely aesthetic&#8221; overlooks the very real physical toll these conditions can take on a developing body.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":1957,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Is it Just Cosmetic? Understanding the Physical Impact of Pectus on Your Child - Pectus Clinic<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pectus.co.il\/en\/2026\/03\/23\/clinical-and-psychosocial-perspectives-on-chest-wall-deformities-a-comprehensive-analysis-for-pediatric-thoracic-care-in-south-africa-2\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Is it Just Cosmetic? 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