Leg lengthening surgery: Procedure, results and recovery

Leg lengthening surgery is a procedure that is increasingly being performed by people who wish to improve their figure and body proportions. This specialized procedure, although it originated in reconstructive medicine, is increasingly used for aesthetic purposes as well. In this post we will introduce you to all the most important information about leg lengthening surgery. You will learn how many cm you can gain, how much the procedure costs and what it consists of. We invite you to read more!

Leg lengthening surgery - for whom?

Leg lengthening is an operation that is performed on both children and adults. It is most commonly used for conditions such as femoral underdevelopment, fibular hemimelia, tibial hemimelia or skeletal dysplasia. While each of these conditions requires an individualized approach, they all involve changes in limb length, often leading to unevenness, functional limitations or short stature.

More and more people are also opting for cosmetic limb lengthening. This procedure is primarily for people struggling with growth dysphoria. This is a psychological condition in which a person feels strong dissatisfaction or discomfort with his or her own height, even when it is within normal limits. In such cases, the decision to undergo surgery stems from the need to harmonize one's external image with one's internal sense of self. For people with growth dysphoria, leg-lengthening surgery is not just a matter of aesthetics, but has a profound impact on their well-being and quality of life.

What does leg lengthening surgery involve?

Leg lengthening surgery is an advanced orthopedic technique for increasing the length of lower limbs. The process is based on gradual lengthening, which stretches the bones and creates new bone tissue. Using the body's natural ability to regenerate.

The most modern method used for limb lengthening is the Precice system. The procedure involves making a precise incision of several millimeters in the skin, through which a special telescopic intramedullary nail is inserted into the bone. It is equipped with a small motor driven by a magnetic field, which is activated by an external controller (ERC). By simply applying it to the leg, the movement of the magnet in the controller causes the Precice nail to extend. This results in a gradual elongation of the bone.

Leg lengthening surgery with Precice technology is distinguished not only by its effectiveness, but also by its low pain level, so that the patient does not have to give up daily activities. The system is also FDA approved. So you are assured that it is safe, tested and approved by one of the world's most stringent regulatory bodies.

With Precice technology, it is possible to lengthen the bone by 5, 8, 13, or even 16 cm, although the final result depends on the patient's individual circumstances. At Paley European Institute, we offer:

• Bilateral femoral lengthening of up to 8 cm,
• Bilateral tibial lengthening of up to 5 cm,
• Lengthening of tibia bones up to 5 cm and femurs up to 8 cm at an interval of three weeks,
• Lengthening the femurs to 8 cm, and then after a year lengthening the tibias to 5 cm,
• procedure for the combined lengthening of the tibia and femur to 4 cm each. After at least a year after the first operation, a re-fracture of the femurs and tibias is carried out. in order to, in the second stage of the procedure, again lengthen the bones by another 4 cm, which makes it possible to achieve a total length increase of another 8 cm. In total, the entire procedure allows the lengthening of limbs by 16 cm.

Leg lengthening surgery - how much does it cost?

In the case of leg lengthening surgery, how much it costs is variable and depends on a number of factors, including the technique chosen and the extent of the procedure. The cost of consultation and rehabilitation after the procedure should also be added to the price. At Paley European Institute, the price of leg lengthening surgery includes the cost of, among other things, pre-operative qualification (orthopedist, pediatrician, anesthesiologist), laboratory tests and X-rays, medical supplies for both limbs (including the price of implants), surgery, anesthesiological care, hospital stay, post-operative care (follow-up visits, dressing changes, X-rays) and a package of individual rehabilitation (60 h).

Recovery after surgery

Leg lengthening surgery is followed by a period of recovery, which requires the patient to be patient and follow the instructions of the doctor and physiotherapist team. Rehabilitation is crucial to the success of the entire procedure.

The procedure is followed by a delay phase, which lasts 5 to 7 days, during which repair processes are initiated between the fragments of the cut bone. This is followed by an elongation phase, where, with the help of an external ERC control unit, the bone fragments are slowly moved away from each other. This process is called the distraction, or lengthening, phase, where the tibia bone is lengthened by 0.75 mm and the femur by 1 mm. During distraction of the fragments, the defect site is filled with newly formed bone tissue. In this way, the bone is elongated. The resulting bone tissue is called bone regenerate. Gradual stretching forces the body to continuously create new bone and soft tissues such as skin, muscles, nerves and blood vessels. The distraction phase continues until the desired bone length is reached. It is possible to gain about 2.5 cm of additional length per month.

The next stage is the consolidation phase, during which the bone regenerate gradually hardens and transforms into bone. In the case of a typical 5 cm lengthening procedure, it takes about 2 months to achieve additional length, while mineralization of the new tissue requires another 2-3 months. Once full consolidation of bone regeneration is achieved, the lengthening apparatus can be removed. After about a year, the nail is removed and the bone is fully healed.

Summary

Leg lengthening surgery is a complicated and expensive procedure, but for many people it can be the key to feeling and looking better. It is important to approach it with full awareness of all aspects - from the procedure, to the cost, to the recovery. Any decision to undergo surgery should be made after consulting a specialist and carefully weighing all the pros and cons.

The Paley Institute is one of the leading places where these types of procedures are performed, offering first-class care and expertise. Contact us and get all the information you need about leg lengthening surgery. Feel free to contact us!