How much taller can I get? The total recommended lengthening is 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) in the thigh bone (femur). Lengthening more than 3 inches in one bone is associated with higher complication rates, and our doctors put patient safety first.
The $75,000, four-hour operation, which is not generally covered by insurance, involves cutting the thigh bones in each leg and inserting rods inside them. Then over the next three to four months, the rods are lengthened by up to 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) per day, via an external remote control.
Limb lengthening surgery can be done safely and effectively in both children and adults–including those in their 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s.
Limb lengthening puts patients at risk of nerve damage, muscle damage, joint contracture, dislocations, and arthritis. We make sure our patients know this while they are weighing their options.
Increasing your height after 18 is not possible, even through nutrition and exercise, because the growth plates stop growing. The growth plates (epiphyseal plates) are present at the end of long bones.
The lengthening itself is not painful for most patients, though your child's muscles may feel sore or tight. Physical therapy or occupational therapy (depending on your child's age) will help stretch the tissues in the limb and maintain mobility of your child's joints.
Is leg lengthening worth it? Leg lengthening surgery should not be pursued for strictly cosmetic reasons. While many people (commonly men) have insecurities about their height, self-confidence can be improved in other ways — ideally ways that don't risk permanent disability.
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.
With a 95% success rate, limb lengthening surgery is being opted for by many individuals who need it.
An adult cannot increase their height after the growth plates close. However, there are plenty of ways a person can improve their posture to look taller.
Recovery from leg lengthening surgery can be a tedious process as bone distraction and new growth must occur gradually over several weeks or months. The amount of time it takes the bone to heal depends on the amount of lengthening: Each centimeter of lengthening takes 36 days of healing.
Although a few people may continue growing even in their early 20s, most adults cannot increase their height after age 21 if their growth plates close. However, there are ways to maximize your height in your growing years through nutrition and exercise.
The surgery is done under general anesthesia. This means the person is asleep and pain-free during surgery. The bone to be lengthened is cut. Metal pins or screws are placed through the skin and into the bone.
It is typically 6 to 12 months after the surgery, with the doctor's approval, before patients can start performance-requiring physical activities such as running, jumping, and weight-lifting.
Limb lengthening surgery is very different from other cosmetic surgery procedures. This surgery requires advanced orthopedic equipment and should only be performed by qualified and experienced surgeons. As a result, it is more expensive than other cosmetic surgery procedures.
Initially you will need to adjust to the new length of your muscles but it shouldn't take you long. Also the muscles will be initially weaker but with exercising you will regain the strength.
Full recovery from limb lengthening takes several months. During this time, you will gradually do more activity and gain more strength. These steps will help you have a successful recovery and the best possible outcome: Don't exercise more than your provider recommends, which could cause injury.
The total recommended lengthening is 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) in the thigh bone (femur). Lengthening more than 3 inches in one bone is associated with higher complication rates, and our doctors put patient safety first.
It is true that once puberty is over, the growth plates in our bones fuse together, and we are not likely to grow much taller. However, for those who still wish to grow taller, there is a surgical solution known as limb lengthening surgery.
A major growth spurt happens at the time of puberty, usually between 8 to 13 years of age in girls and 10 to 15 years in boys. Puberty lasts about 2 to 5 years.
There are only a handful of providers who perform height lengthening surgery in the United States. In the U.S., bilateral femoral lengthening can sometimes cost more than $120,000, while tibia and femoral lengthening combined can cost in excess of $250,000 with some providers.