Objective To investigate the feasibility and clinical outcomes of minimally invasive sternal depression by autologous force for the correction of pectus carinatum. Methods Between October 2011 and September 2015, 22 pectus carinatum patients underwent minimally invasive surgical correction of pectus carinatum in Tongji Hospital. Clinical data of 22 patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 19 males and 3 females with a mean age of 12.00±2.87 years, ranging from 6 to 15 years. Among them, 17 patients were symmetric malformation, and the others were asymmetric. Preoperative chest CT scan was performed on 14 patients. Haller index was 1.65-2.23 (1.97±0.15). All the patients underwent the minimally invasive surgical correction of pectus carinatum with a NUSS bar via sternal depression by autologous force. Results All the operations were completed successfully. The mean operation time was 55-120 (83.73±16.62) min and blood loss volume was 10-50 (28.18±11.63) ml. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 3-6 (4.23±1.17) d. Postoperative complications included wound infection in 2 patients, minor pneumothorax in 3 patients, who were cured by conservative treatment. One patient suffering postoperative hydropneumothorax received drainage. All the patients were followed up for 6-48 months after discharge and very satisfied with the chest appearance following surgery. No patient complained of persistent pain. There was no displacement of the bar or the stabilizers. Nine patients underwent the removal of the NUSS bar without pectus carinatum recurrence. Conclusion Minimally invasive sternal depression by autologous force simplifies the procedure of correction of pectus carinatum with reliable and satisfactory outcomes.