Is it possible to have surgery to make you taller

Marie Gdalevitch, a limb lengthening and deformity correction specialist based in Montreal. Gdalevitch said newer technology has resulted in fewer complications and less pain, and she hopes to raise awareness and educate other doctors.

Her one concerns is that she has fixed botched surgeries on patients who went abroad to get it done at a cheaper price. Carrie Kollias, a Canadian doctor who now practices in Melbourne, Australia. And there are risks as well, including fractures, deformity, chronic pain, nerve injury, blood vessel injury, and bone infection.

You can be the most compliant patient and the most gifted surgeon in the world, and you may still get a complication. But for those who have undergone the process, they say the risks, the cost and the pain are a small price to pay for what they gained.

I think this surgery is totally, totally worth it. Limb-lengthening surgery is becoming an increasingly popular cosmetic procedure, despite being controversial among doctors, as patients look to add up to six inches to their stature. Alfonso Flores, left, with Dr. Kevin Debiparshad, a Canadian orthopedic surgeon and chief executive of a private clinic that specializes in cosmetic limb lengthening. Flores has no regrets either, and no pain. He now stands over six feet tall. Related Stories 'Collateral damage': Doctors worry patients diagnosed with more advanced cancers because of delays.

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If you are not located in the Philadelphia area, it may be possible to setup a telemedicine appointment to follow-up if this is more convenient. We would ask that you obtain X-rays at an outside location and have the images and reports sent to our office. You will continue to work with Physical Therapy on gait training and leg strengthening throughout the lengthening process.

We do not recommend running or high-impact activities during the lengthening period, however we do encourage you to engage in low impact activities such as a stationary bike and walking. Access myPennMedicine For Patients and Visitors. Find a Program or Service. Orthoplastic Limb Salvage Center.

Limb Lengthening. What To Expect Costs and Accommodations. Preparing for Surgery We recommend that you maintain a healthy diet and healthy weight BMI less than Post Surgery Once you are discharged from the hospital, you will work with physical therapy each day to work on leg strengthening exercises.

Share This Page: Post Tweet. The results to date have been excellent and you can be confident with our techniques and care, from start to finish. Leg lengthening surgery may be suitable for you, especially if you are younger and quite supple. It is major surgery and you will need to tell us of any medical conditions as part of the assessment to see if you are suitable for this type of surgery.

Smoking is prohibited and as you will need to undertake a strict programme of Physiotherapy with stretches as you grow. Not everyone is suitable for leg lengthening surgery and you may not always be able to achieve your desired height gain. However, our experts will discuss this further with you and make recommendations accordingly. At Schoen Clinic London, we are now able to offer surgery to precisely equalise your leg length and restore your balance.

Modern techniques allow us to osteotomise the relevant bone, usually the femur, and then lengthen it to balance you. You will be in control of the distraction using an external remote control which will allow you to grow the bone at a rate of 1mm per day. This allows for a very precise correction and the leg lengthening can be stopped when you feel that the legs are of equal length.

At Schoen Clinic London , we are able to perform bilateral leg lengthening procedures and Mr Ian Bacarese-Hamilton uses cutting-edge techniques to perform bilateral osteotomies of the long bones and subsequent distraction. Using the Stryde nail, one can weight bear following surgery allowing you to mobilise with improved recovery and better new bone formation.

Medical complications can include deep vein thrombosis and fat embolism. In rare cases, the bone might fail to heal completely and bone graft surgery might be required. A nerve may become too stretched, which occasionally requires surgery to decompress the nerve. Tight muscles and tendons might require tendon-lengthening surgery. Again, these problems are unlikely in most cases, but, should they occur, they can be corrected by surgery. Lengthening that occurs too slowly or failure to place the magnetic field generator directly over the internal magnet in the Precice nail can lead to premature bone healing.

If this happens, additional surgery is needed to re-cut the bone to allow the lengthening process to continue. Please note that if additional surgeries are required, they also will not be covered by insurance, so they must be paid out of pocket. The majority of our patients achieve excellent results without significant complications.

Those who do experience complications usually achieve good outcomes as long as the complications are recognized and treated promptly. It is a lengthy rehabilitation process, and it can take up to one or even two years until full recovery and return to normal function is achieved, including sports activities.

Our patients do not only gain height; many also report higher self-confidence and self-esteem after we help them achieve their lengthening goals. Limb lengthening should always be performed by experienced surgeons. Our patients have come from over 60 countries and six continents to receive comprehensive orthopedic treatment by our world-renowned team.

Your doctor will take the time to make sure you understand all of your options and then will customize your treatment to meet your specific needs. Our patients benefit from our team-centered approach with expert orthopedic surgeons and specialized physician assistants, nurses and physical therapists. We help patients who undergo cosmetic height surgery achieve their best possible result. Michael Assayag. Janet Conway.

Philip McClure. Nothing is more important to us than your health and safety. To ensure maximum safety in all of our clinics and offices, we are preventing the spread of COVID in our patient areas by:.

Please click here for the most up-to-date hospital visitor policies. Please note there are special guidelines for pediatric patients at Sinai; please click here to read them. John Herzenberg Dr.