Surgery to grow (bone lengthening): how is it, risks and cost

In recent decades, surgeries to grow (known as bone lengthening in Spanish and cosmetic lengthening in English) have been performed with multiple purposes, such as treat dwarfism or correct congenital skeletal deformities that make daily life impossible for the patient. Even so, despite the fact that it is an operation focused on physiological well-being, more and more is being carried out with other connotations: reaching an aesthetic ideal.

They tell us men that height is a defining trait in modern society because, according to studies, up to 50% of women argue that they do not want to have a partner shorter than them. Historically, male height has been associated with virility, power and good genetic bearing, which has fact that it is valued as an essential aesthetic component for many couples, at least in the face of public.

The dilemma is posed: Is the operation worth it? How ethical are the limits of physical modification in exchange for physiological well-being? Today we tell you everything you need to know about surgery to grow, as it raises a very delicate debate of lights and shadows.

• We recommend you read: "Surgery to lengthen a short nose: procedure, price and results"

What is bone lengthening and for whom is it indicated?

In the first place, it is necessary to clarify that, although bone lengthening is a procedure known to professionals to the bone, it is about a delicate surgery and not without risks that in no case should be trivialized. We are not talking about tooth extraction or even liposuction, but about intentional fracturing of the leg bones. If it sounds unpleasant to imagine it, it is because it really is unpleasant to live it.

Thus, almost all the sources consulted reach a consensus on the same thing: this surgery should be considered for people who present Physiological asymmetries, such as one leg being larger than the other, making it difficult to walk and damaging the confidence or emotional integrity of the patient. Generally, these asymmetries are the cause of childhood fractures / infections, which slowed the development of the affected limb, or are directly caused by congenital defects present in the birth.

On the other hand, it is also conceived in patients with dwarfism, a genetic problem that affects one in every 15,000-40,000 people. An individual is considered "pathologically dwarf" when he has a height of 1.5 meters in the case of men and 1.4 meters in the case of women, due to a genetic alteration or a lack of development during childhood.

Disproportionate dwarfism can cause a number of daily problems, including the following:

• Delays in the development of motor skills, such as sitting, crawling or walking.
• Frequent ear infections.
• Leg arching.
• Arthritis.
• Pressure on the spinal cord at the base of the skull.

It is clear that in a pathological setting like this, bone lengthening surgery is conceivable, but things get complicated when we approach this operation as a mere aesthetic complement.

Is Surgery To Grow Going Too Far?

We are facing a very painful and difficult operation to manage emotionally and physically. Therefore, it is not surprising to learn that pioneering clinics in the United States or Germany do not usually perform more than 200 procedures per year for purely cosmetic purposes. Prices are also around 60,000-230,000 euros (depending on the establishment), so very few people can afford it.

The question to ask is clear: is it worth it? Height may seem like an essential aesthetic component to attracting the opposite sex, but is it really key to achieving individual confidence? Unless you present a pathological asymmetry that hinders your own lifestyle, we fear that we cannot recommend this operation. If you still have an interest in her despite everything, read on.

How is it the procedure?

Bone lengthening is based on a relatively simple premise, at least on paper: the ability of bone to regenerate when a fracture occurs. Taking this physiological reality as a reference, the professional performs a controlled fracture in the leg bones (usually tibia / femur) and places an external fixator on the patient, which is attached to the affected limb by means of percutaneous needles (a kind of metal bolt).

This initial operation takes about 3 hours, requires general anesthesia and the patient must remain hospitalized and monitored for about 5 days. After that, the professional and the individual himself from home should gradually lengthen the prosthesis placed in the fracture (with the help of devices) as the bone heals. The external fixator must be present on the treated limb for about 35-40 days for each centimeter elongated.

This means that, literally, the patient will leave the clinic with the bones of the divided limbs, which are held in place thanks to the external fixator mentioned in previous lines. Little by little an elongation will occur artificial (1 millimeter a day) that requires continuous medical care and a rehabilitation program, at least slow and expensive. The recovery time depends on each patient and the modified structure, since it is very different to fracture the bones of the leg, thigh or arm, for example.

It also completely depends on how many centimeters you want to lengthen the general height, adding approximately 35-50 days for each centimeter generated. On average, it is estimated that the treatment lasts up to a minimum of 3 months, during which time it is also You must perform kinesitherapy rehabilitation, that is, treatments based on the movement of the area affected.

Once elongated within the possible physical limits, the elongation process will stop and begin to perform exercises that allow the previously fractured bone to regain its strength, function and structure natural. Once the new synthesized tissue has matured, it will be time to remove the external fixator, with all the apparatus that this entails.

Results

Various studies with large sample groups have shown that the average growth after bone lengthening is 7.2 centimeters (in a range of 5 to 11), with a mean duration of treatment of 9 months (in a range of 7 to 18 months). This means that, after surgery, a person who was previously 1.70 in height will get closer to 1.80 in about a year.

Risks

If you find it unpleasant to have a structure with nails going through your leg and having to manually lengthen your own bones every day, you can imagine the risks of infection and fracture that may occur after the procedure. According to specialized portals, one of the greatest dangers of this operation is that the insertion area of ​​the percutaneous needles becomes infect, which is why it is recommended to lather it thoroughly on a routine basis and see a doctor promptly before any irregularity.

There are also risks of bone atrophy, bone collapse after removal of the external fixator, growth deformities or consolidation of the bone structure too early. Many of these problems must be addressed surgically, so more days of recovery and more money must be invested for each complication presented.

A necessary final reflection

In addition to all the procedure and problems already mentioned, it is common for patients to consume pain relievers for a certain time and suffer from depression and other pathologies clearly associated with operation. We have described many cosmetic surgeries on this page but, of course, none is so inadvisable for the general population as this.

Da Vinci's aesthetic ideal has less and less weight in society, since gender spectra, body shapes and identities dominate an increasingly inclusive culture willing to break dogmas. We cannot tell you more clearly on this occasion: accepting yourself and loving each characteristic of your own is the best option and, if this it cannot be achieved, there is a base of psychologists and psychiatrists that can help you overcome your insecurities in a effective. This will not only help you to accept not being "so tall", but to love yourself as an individual and unique entity.

The bone lengthening operation is painful and demanding, both physically and emotionally. As much as the result may be worth seeing yourself with metal exterior fasteners and not Being able to walk normally for almost a year can greatly affect the psychological well-being of the child. patient. Therefore, unless you present a clear physical asymmetry that makes routine impossible or a congenital pathology, it is impossible for us to recommend this procedure. No self-respecting person will discriminate against you because of your height, and if he does, he doesn't deserve to be in your life.