Do they open the rib cage for a bypass surgery?

The standard incision is through the middle of the sternum vertically, it is closed with wire at the end of the procedure you can see the wires in people who have previously had heart surgery. read more

(Big saw at 2:15 or so, warning: perhaps a bit graphic if you have not seen a lot of surgery.) More recently, surgeons have begun using minimally invasive thoracoscopic techniques (particularly robotically-assisted surgery) which use small tools and cameras passed between the ribs. read more

I had heart surgery just over 3 months ago and had the breastbone broken and the ribs opened up, coughing seemed to cause the most pain, but as the other person said pillows do really help and the occasional irritation of wires (i think it was the wires) under the skin, it took about 12 weeks to fully heal, maybe a bit longer. read more