Magneto

via SFGate:

When a UCSF Children's Hospital surgeon suggested an untested treatment to correct Richard Nave's congenital chest defect, his mother was, naturally, concerned for her son's safety. But as soon as Richard, 15, heard he'd be the first person in the world to try out the procedure, he was sold. "First, I like that," said Richard, obviously gloating during a regular checkup at UCSF last month.

Richard has earned his bragging rights. The San Francisco teenager suffers from a chest cartilage deformity called pectus excavatum, also known as sunken chest because as children get older, their sternum and ribs fold in, creating a concave effect in their chest wall.

In many cases, the deformity is unattractive but doesn't pose a health risk. It can cause heart and lung problems from the added pressure from the sternum, though, especially when children are breathing hard from play or exercise. For decades, the most common treatments for this condition were major surgery, involving either cracking open the chest and rebuilding the bone structure, or inserting a bar under the sternum to force it into a normal shape.

But four months ago, Dr. Michael Harrison attached a hockey-puck-size magnet to Richard's sternum, which is now slowly being pulled outward by a second magnet stuck to a brace Richard wears on his chest. The treatment is supposed to work a bit like braces for teeth, slowly correcting the deformity by pulling the bones into the right shape.

The internal magnet was screwed to Richard's sternum during a short operation. He said he feels a little sore sometimes from the near-constant pull of the magnets, and it's not fun wearing a chest brace most of the day. But all things considered, it's a lot easier than the usual treatment for pectus.

"All my friends, when they see me, they throw their keys at me" to see if they'll stick, Richard said. He rolls his eyes a little, but he admits it's kind of cool. "My nickname on the wrestling team is Magneto."