Cosmetic leg-lengthening surgery: UK doctor sounds alarm over 'extremely painful' procedure

For decades, breaking someone’s legs to make them taller was a brutal solution for children born with one leg shorter than the other or patients recovering from catastrophic injuries.

Now, more and more adults in Europe and beyond, notably men seeking a boost in confidence or dating prospects, are voluntarily going under the knife, simply to stand a little taller.

The technique was first developed in the 1950s by Soviet surgeon Gavriil Abramovich Ilizarov, originally to help patients with severe deformities or growth issues. But today, it’s being marketed as a luxury cosmetic procedure for those willing to endure the agonising pain and pay eye-watering sums.

How does limb lengthening surgery work?

The process begins with an osteotomy - the surgeon saws through the leg bone, splitting it into two pieces. A lengthening device, often an external metal frame pinned through the skin and into the bone, gradually pulls the sections apart by tiny millimetres each day.

Patients must turn small screws or dials several times a day, forcing the bones to separate. Over months, the body tries to heal itself, growing new bone to bridge the lengthened gap.

A successful outcome may be a 5-8cm increase in height, according to a claim by a US limb lengthening company.

What are the downsides of this surgery?

Recovery can be punishingly slow and painful. Patients spend weeks immobilised, followed by months of daily physiotherapy to stretch muscles and relearn walking.

Complications are also common: a study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research found that 30-45 per cent of 760 patients experienced issues such as infections, bone-healing problems, joint stiffness or nerve damage.

NHS doctors in the United Kingdom are now also urging people to reconsider undergoing such traumatic treatment.

“Leg lengthening surgery is not a quick fix – it is a serious, invasive procedure that can be beneficial for patients when there is a genuine clinical need but carries significant risks and requires informed discussions between patient and surgeon," Professor Tim Briggs, NHS England’s national director for clinical improvement and elective recovery, recently told The Telegraph.

He warned that patients face months of treatment, which can be "extremely painful", with the possibility of infection, nerve damage, blood clots and even permanent disability.

"Anyone considering this surgery for cosmetic reasons abroad should think very carefully about the long recovery and the risks, and I would urge against it unless well informed about where they are seeking treatment," he said.

A growing market

While this procedure may sound like unbearable medieval torture to many, demand for it is rising.

Analysts estimate the global limb-lengthening industry could almost double by the end of the decade, from around $4 billion (€3.3 billion) in 2021 to up to $8.6 billion by 2030.

Costs for the surgery vary wildly. In the UK, private treatment can cost more than £50,000 (€57,000), with some surgeons charging up to £240,000.

Turkey, fast becoming a hub for medical tourism, offers the procedure for €28,000.