Leg Lengthening Surgery
Today, cosmetic lengthening surgery can be divided into 3 types according to the materials used.
- Lengthening with an external fixator alone
- An intramedullary nail combined with an external fixator (combined technique, lengthening over a nail) (the method used by our team)
- Motorized nails
When lengthening is done with a fixator alone, the surgical technique is simple, but patient comfort is low because the external fixator has to stay on the outside of the leg for a long time.
With the combined technique, which is the one we use, the external device stays on the leg only during the lengthening phase and is removed as soon as lengthening is complete.
Its advantage over motorized nails is its lower cost.
With motorized nails, the surgical technique is simple and patient comfort is high, but these systems increase the cost considerably. Each nail adds an extra cost of approximately €15,000 on top of the surgical expenses.
Who should undergo leg lengthening surgery?
Patients aged 20–40 who are shorter than 150 cm (women) or 160 cm (men) make up the ideal patient group for cosmetic lengthening.
However, it can also be performed on patients who are taller than this but wish to be taller for various reasons, provided they have adequate psychological and physical characteristics.
Who cannot have leg lengthening?
- When the patient's medical condition is not suitable for major surgery;
- In the presence of bleeding or clotting disorders;
- Immunosuppression;
- In the presence of an active infection;
- It cannot be performed on patients whose psychological or mental state would prevent them from fulfilling, or interfere with their fulfilling, the responsibilities that fall to the patient during the lengthening phase of the surgery.
How long does the external device stay on during leg lengthening?
The duration can be calculated by adding 10 to the planned amount of lengthening in millimeters. In other words, for 40 mm of lengthening, the fixator should stay on for roughly 50 days.
Op. Dr. Halil Buldu
Is lengthening painful?
Because lengthening is carried out at 1 mm per day, in 4 increments a day, the body adapts to it easily and, as expected, there is no pain during lengthening.
Can the patient walk during lengthening?
The combined technique we use is a highly stable system, so although walking may be difficult in the first few days because of pain, walking with full weight-bearing is permitted after surgery.
How long does treatment take relative to the length gained?
Treatment is completed in roughly as many months as the number of centimeters gained. So for 6 cm of lengthening, a treatment period of 6 months should be expected.
What is the maximum height that can be gained?
The height gain can be planned at approximately 5–12 cm. This amount is decided together with the patient, taking into account the patient's body characteristics, target height and trunk-to-leg length ratio.
Is physical therapy necessary after surgery?
We work with our physiotherapists, who specialize in lengthening surgery, to help patients walk with crutches immediately after surgery and, once the lengthening phase begins, to preserve joint motion and prevent any restriction of movement from developing.
Are there any risks to leg lengthening surgery?
Apart from the anesthetic and surgical risks that can occur with any operation, possible complications include blood clots (embolism), infection, joint stiffness, circulatory problems and pain due to nerve stretching, although these occur at very low rates.
What does the patient need to do after surgery?
The patient performs the lengthening with their device in 4 sessions a day, as instructed. During the first days of lengthening, our support staff assist the patient at home.
We strongly emphasize that the sites where the external device enters the body should be cleaned with a disinfectant solution every 3–4 days, and that our team should be notified immediately if there is any discharge.
