Limb Lengthening Surgery Methods

Limb lengthening is a surgical procedure that balances the patient’s manner of walking , retouches height proportion, and resolves cosmetic issues. The process of limb lengthening surgery takes patience, time and determination.

There are four limb lengthening methods used by most surgeons currently. One of them is completely external (Ilızarov), one is internal-external combined (LON), and the other two are completely internal (Precice 2 and Stryde). Even though all of these approaches have a common logic, in actuality, they offer quite distinct patient experiences and treatment procedures.

There are currently two surgery methods offered for limb lengthening, and the prices vary according to methods. You can read our limb lengthening surgery cost article for prices around the world.

There is no age restriction for limb lengthening surgery, however, the minimum age is often 18 years old, especially when the growth plates have fused completely. Leg lengthening procedures may be done on even the elderly with great success as long as there is no concerning health issue. Yet, bone density and other test results might be required for some age groups depending on the circumstances. Non-smokers and healthy individuals are the most eligible candidates for limb lengthening surgery.

Because limb lengthening surgery is quite pricy in most countries, Turkey appears to be a promising alternative for those who seek to get cosmetic height augmentation surgery done.

The benefits of being taller can be felt in every field. If an individual thinks that getting taller boost his confidence, eliminates his mental obsession, and most importantly, makes him feel better, then, it is worth having limb lengthening surgery.

It hurts to have the nails embedded in and to have the bones fractured surgically, however, you will be prescribed painkillers to ease your pain. Fractured bones, cut muscles, and severed soft tissues all cause pain. Moving the legs and keeping them active as much as possible help reduce the soreness and lighten the aching pain. And, the most effective key to decreasing the pain level is physical therapy. When post-op pain subsides close to the end of the distraction phase, your quality of life will increase dramatically.

You can go back to all of your previous activities after the newly formed bone has fully healed (consolidated) after the limb-lengthening procedure. You will surely need some time to get used to your muscles’ increased length, but it shouldn’t take too long. Additionally, the muscles will initially lack strength, but with regular exercises and stretches, they will be physically strong. Returning back to daily activities may take at least 4/5 months after the first limb lengthening surgery depending on the height achievement.

With the latest and advanced limb lengthening surgery methods, you can gain 3.15 inches (8 cm) on the femurs and 2.76 inches (7 cm) on the tibias. You are more likely to achieve your dream height if you stretch more both before and after surgery. Generally, the major factor preventing patients from distracting more is the tightening of the soft tissues in the course of the lengthening phase. Lastly, the process of height extension surgery is planned by considering the patient’s muscle flexibility, body structure, and proportion.

Although limb lengthening surgery is relatively safe, it has its own unique set of unpredictable risks and potential complications, much like every invasive procedure. The risk of bleeding, infection, slow bone union, and other general concerns are present in all surgeries, and limb lengthening surgery is no exception. At every phase, preventive measures will be taken to reduce these risks. As part of the consenting process, we will go through these in-depth during the face-to-face consultation. Like with any cosmetic surgery, the risk of any potential complications can be minimized by strictly abiding by the physical therapy regimen and taking prescribed medications.

During the distraction phase, patients are required to give partial weight bearing and walk in a controlled manner (LON patients). Precice patients are not allowed to stand and walk more than 20 minutes a day because the Precice nails have got a limited weight-bearing capacity. It is crucial to have the patients walk a day after the surgery in order to circulate the blood circulation in the legs and prevent some potential health problems such as pulmonary embolism. Walking without any assistance can be expected 4/5 months after the first surgery, however, the time may prolong deondşng on the amount of achieved elongation and recovery progress.

Cosmetic operations are highly expensive in the U.S.A and many other European countries, yet they can be performed with comparable quality and at considerably lower costs in places like Turkey. Mainly, The U.S.A, Germany, England, South Korea, and Turkey are the best and most chosen alternatives for having limb lengthening surgery.