Height increasing or limb lengthening surgery is an option for individuals to increase their height. And while you might have seen those before-and-after videos of people gaining as much as 4, 5, 6 inches, there remains a vital distinction between what is technically achievable with a leg lengthening procedure and what is medically safe for the body.
For those people who are planning to opt for this surgery and do not have an idea about how much their height will increase, here are some insights.
- If you opt for a femur lengthening procedure, you may be able to increase your height by 3-4 inches.
- If you opt for tibia lengthening or shin bone lengthening procedure, you may be able to increase your height by 2-3 inches.
- If you opt for a combined surgery, you may be able to increase your height by 5-6 inches. This surgery would be performed in two stages.
While these are the average figures, the maximum measurement of leg lengthening is not the same for every patient, and keeps varying, depending on different factors, including surgical method, your body’s ability to adapt, your muscle formation, the flexibility of your nerves, and how consistently you follow the physiotherapy program. Moreover, the safety factor always has a role to play. What may look safe for the maximum number of people may cause complications for a few.
For patients who fully recover and allow the body to completely adapt after the first two limb lengthening surgeries, it is possible to go another round to increase their height. The doctor may allow you a 2-year window to prepare for the surgery. In this case, each bone segment may often be lengthened an additional 4-5 cm. During this time, all your body proportions must remain balanced, and the overall function of the body must be preserved.
The success rate of the surgery further depends on the expertise and skill of your doctor. Ensure you consult a surgeon with enough experience and a high success rate.
