Patient information:

1-Is there a rule for growth hormone or other medications in getting taller?

No Categorically not. Once you have stopped growing, the growth plates in your bones fuse and this prevents any further growth of your bones, at this point growth hormone will not work. Bones are the major contributing factor to your height. Any company claiming to offer pills, chemicals, machinery or other magical solutions to permanent height increase are trying to scam people. No such solution has ever been proven to work.

2-what is Leg Lengthening ?

It involves one or more of the bones in a limb being broken, and then the two separate parts of that bone being slowly pulled apart )distracted(. Normally this involves small adjustments done several times a day. Bone regenerates in this situation, and new bone cells will be produced and will fill the space in the break. The new bone will not be fully hardened (consolidate) for over a year, but should be strong enough to support walking within a few months of surgery. There are a number of different techniques, some involving only internal procedures, others using external and sometimes a combination of the two. The principle was discovered by Professor Ilizarov of Russia, and the standard external device for lengthening or leg correction is called the Ilizarov frame. There are many alternatives, but nearly all are based on the principles discovered by Professor Ilizarov.

3-How much Lengthening could be achieved ?

The final decision depends on clinical evaluation and radiological assessment. The human body has astonishing growth abilities, and significant height increases have been realised by people with growth deficiencies. Technically, in excess of 12 inches is possible where medical reasons dictate. For cosmetic reasons, most surgeons recommend a maximum of 5cm per limb, but up to 12cm is possible with some techniques. However, excessive lengthening may cause problems with the patient’s bodily proportions which may make them unattractive. It may also lead to future health problems such as premature arthritis, bone weakness or muscle atrophy.

4-Which bones can be lengthened?

Both parts of the legs - the thighs containing the femur bone and the shins containing the tibia and fibula bones – can be lengthened. However, most techniques focus on the shins due to the lower risk of complications. If we lengthen total more than 8 cm we need to lengthen the humerus for cosmetic balance.

5-Is it painful ?

Yes! There is certainly some pain involved in leg lengthening (LL), but it most cases the pain is manageable using painkillers and therapies. Some people may find the pain unbearable and be able to continue with the treatment, others will experience very little pain and discomfort. In general, internal methods are less painful than external methods but there are no ‘pain-free’ treatments available.

6-How long does it take?

With our technique the external fixation take less than 1/3 the regular time, but with the old technique for an increase of 5cm (50mm) a normal, healthy adult should expect the whole process to take about 6 months from operation, to being able to walk again. Some people will take longer. For those who are particularly fit, healthy and have a high pain tolerance, it may be possible to do it more quickly. Whilst the bone can regenerate at a rate of 1mm per day, muscles, blood vessels, nerves and tendons grow more slowly, and so a lengthening rate of 0.666mm per day is recommended as the maximum for a normal, healthy adult. A strong person with an above-average level of fitness may be able to achieve a rate of 0.833mm per day. Some doctors allow 1.00mm per day lengthening, but at this pace of lengthening, muscle and tendon problems are common, especially with the knees and ankles.

8-Is it risky?

All unnecessary cosmetic surgery carries an element of danger and should doctors should ensure that their patients fully understand all of the risks and potential complications before they accept them for surgery. Whilst there are very few reports of serious injury or limb loss, it is a possibility with this type of surgery.

9-Why does this type of surgery seem to be more common in developing countries?

There are several possible reasons for this. Tighter regulation and legal frameworks in industrialised nations make cosmetic leg lengthening very expensive and problematic for surgeons due to the possibilities of litigation and problems with medical regulators. Developing countries usually have a lower level of nutrition than industrialised nations which may lead to higher incidences of bone and growth deformities. This means that they often have more doctors focused on this field, and there is a close link between the techniques used to treat deformities and those employed in Leg Lengthening. The average height in industrialised nations is greater than that in developing countries, meaning that demand for such services is greater in the developing world. For example, the average height in the UK is 177cm, whilst the average height in China is 165cm.

10-What other factors influence height?

As well as nutrition, a person’s height will be affected by genetics) the height they inherit from their parents or other ancestors (, illness and their lifestyle. Some research indicates that young people who engage regularly in sports and have a healthy, balanced diet are more likely to achieve their maximum possible height than a young person who doesn’t exercise and has poor nutrition. There are a number of childhood illnesses that can stunt a person’s growth, some of them related directly to growth, others that simply affect nutrition ( e.g. digestion problems) .

12-what limb Lengthening team involved ?

Orthopedic, physical therapy, orthotics department, plastic surgery, neuropsychiatry, endocrinology and internal medicine.

13-Is there best LL method available?

There is no answer to this question. The best method for a particular person will depend on their individual circumstances and requirements.

14-How much it cost?

The full costs for an LL treatment of 5-10 cm are likely to be between 15,000 and 30,000 US Dollars depending on a number of factors.

15-which method is best for me?

Use our resources and links to do your research, learn about different techniques and decide which and method is best for you.

16-How much should I increase by before it will affect my proportions?

Everyone is different. It is possible to be 160cm tall with long legs and to be the same height with short legs.It depends on your existing proportions, your height and only a Leg Lengthening specialist is qualified to give advice on this. Once you have chosen which doctor to work with, they will advise you on what increase is possible and also what increase is advisable. There is no other way to answer this question. There is no formula that will allow you to work out what is possible.

What are the techniques of Lengthening?

1. Circular bone lengthener   2. Unilateral external lengthener   3. Combined external and internal bone lengthening system   4. Fully implantable intramedullary lengthener