Short stature may develop due to medical reasons such as hormonal, developmental, and genetic. Different treatment methods exist for people with this problem who want to be treated. There may be people who are not short when their height is evaluated within the medical criteria but who have aesthetic concerns about their size and want to be taller. Those people; may feel a lack of self-confidence because of their thoughts about their height and may wish to increase their height. In this case, people resort to leg lengthening surgery. The ideal time for this procedure is after the age of 20. It is a frequently performed surgery in Turkey. Since the doctors have experience in this field, you can have a lengthening surgery in Turkey with peace of mind.

What Is The Leg Lengthening Surgery?

Lengthening surgery is an orthopedic surgical procedure to increase leg length for health problems or aesthetic reasons. The surgery, which can be applied not only to the legs but also to the arms, is performed by cutting the bone that is planned to be lengthened and using an external or internal fixator to widen the gap between the bisected ends. Every day, while the bone in the space, which is expanded in a minimal amount, is stretched, new bone is produced in the opened area. Lengthening is achieved by the organism’s capacity to form new bones and the body’s bones, soft tissues, ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves that surround and support it. There is no need to take bone from another part of the body.

How Long Does Limb Lengthening Last?

The surgical procedure for lengthening takes approximately 1.5-2 hours. The patient can usually be discharged after two days if no complications develop.

The time between completing the healing process and removing the fixation devices varies according to the technique used and the patient’s age. For example, the time required for 5 cm lengthening with intraosseous devices is approximately 4-6 months in adults.

How Much Taller Can You Get With Leg Lengthening Surgery?

The targeted lengthening of the lengthening surgery is between 5-8 cm. With the surgery, the height can increase, but the risk of complications due to the operation increases this time. For this reason, it successfully increases the patient’s size by 5-8 cm compared to the preoperative period. Doctors operate on the below-knee and above-knee bones together in cases that require more lengthening than this.

How Many Days Will I Heal After The Lengthening Surgery?

During the operation, the patient is under general anesthesia. In some cases, they administer epidural anesthesia to adults. Depending on the technique used, the duration of the operation may take between 1.5 and 3 hours. While the average stay in the hospital is 2-7 days, the time to return to everyday life and work is 15-20 days. Surgery and recovery time may differ from person to person.

Although the recovery process of surgeries with permanent height increase is troublesome, it pleases the patients with its high success rate. “Is limb lengthening surgery risky?” is a question that comes to mind. Patients should quit alcohol, smoking, antibiotics, and blood thinners to avoid complications during and after the surgery. You should also stop steroids, diuretics, and tranquilizers before surgery. Consult your doctor if you are taking medication for diabetes or blood pressure. Doctors also need to explain all the processes fully they will experience to the patient, and people should prepare themselves psychologically.

How Painful Is Limb Lengthening Surgery?

People who have had lengthening surgery may feel pain on the day of surgery after the effect of anesthesia wears off. For this, painkillers are given under the doctor’s control to make the patient comfortable. If the doctor does it shortly after the patient regains consciousness, the blood circulation will accelerate, and the risks will eliminate. Avoiding heavy lifting loads and standing for too long is necessary during the healing process. But being inactive also negatively affects the healing process. After the recovery period, exercises should be started, and support from physical therapy should obtain. If surgery is performed using a device outside the body, it is also essential to regularly dress the incision and screw areas. Following a healthy diet that will strengthen muscle and bone tissue after surgery and taking calcium supplements will accelerate recovery. Psychological support is also significant regarding the patient’s motivation in lengthening processes that sometimes last for years.

Can You Walk After Leg Lengthening Surgery?

Ten days after surgery, the patient is allowed to walk using a walker.

New bone formation and progress are followed with controls and x-rays.

Approximately four months may require complete healing and consolidation of the newly formed bone in an average of 7-8 cm lengthening. At this stage, the patient should leave the walker and start walking using only a cane or nothing. Now the patient has begun to return to his practical life actively.

In this process, physiotherapy applications and follow-up are essential to adapt the bone and surrounding tissue to the new formation and improve mobility.

One month of the healing process is required for every 2 cm elongation.