Limb lengthening surgery is a safe way to add height to your frame. As long as you follow your doctor's recovery plan and treatment guide, you should have no long-term repercussions from having surgery. It's understandable that you have a lot of questions about this procedure. Read on for a better idea of what you need to know about the safety of limb lengthening surgery.

What Exactly is Limb Lengthening Surgery?

With this type of surgery, you are actually able to add a few inches to your frame, making you taller. You can actually end up almost 6 inches taller with a combination of lengthening the lower and upper parts of your legs! This type of surgery can also be used to correct deformities in legs. We will work with your bones to straighten them out and give you length on your frame.

It is no secret that this surgery is intense, we're not going to mislead you. We cut into bone and essentially add more bone, so it's not going to feel entirely pleasant when you wake up. After surgery, in the next few months your cut bone is actually slowly pulled apart, which is what adds length to your frame. This is done in small increments, 1mm at a time, so it will not be difficult to go through. You just need to know that the whole process will take a few months, and there is no overnight fix to adding a few inches to your frame.

What is Recovery Like?

The most important thing to know about your recovery is that we will guide you every step of the way. You do want to make sure you follow our team's instructions closely, so you do not have any complications. Our surgeries are quite successful, and you should not find recovery to be that difficult.

With a few minutes at home every day you could find yourself gaining almost 1mm every day in recovery. Our team will recommend supplements like calcium and vitamin D, which will aid in the recovery process.

You should plan on going to physical therapy for many weeks after surgery as this is truly where recovery begins. With physical therapy, you will work your muscles and ligaments, so they can adjust to the new bone that was implanted during surgery. This is critical as you need your muscles to adapt, so you can easily walk and move after you recover.

Following your physical therapists instructions might be the most important part of the entire procedure. This is what is truly going to get you on the mend. Your body needs to adjust to the surgery it just had, and physical therapy is what is going to get you there.

What are the Risks?

The biggest risk we have seen is compartment leg syndrome, but we take care of it right away without any long-term problems happening. We have fine-tuned the procedure and use the latest and greatest technology, which reduces risk of any complications. There are also standard surgery risks such as blood clots or infections, but our team closely monitors our patients during recovery, so these risks are rare.

Perhaps the greatest risk is if you do not follow the guidelines of your doctors and physical therapists. If you are strict in your follow-up care, you will be just fine and there are very few complications. It's important to be active and move your legs in the exact manner prescribed after surgery, as that is what is going to promote the best results from surgery.

Is it Worth it?

Absolutely! It is very a safe procedure and it can bring great confidence to your life. If you have struggled with a leg deformity or self-esteem and depression because of your height, your only regret will be that you didn't come in for the surgery sooner!

You will get peace of mind, improved confidence, and might find that your dating chances improve too. This surgery can truly change your life for the better in ways you haven't dreamed of.

The truth of the matter is, if you are considering limb lengthening surgery, there is nothing in the details of the surgery that should scare you away. We produce great results and have a whole team that will work with you from right now before surgery until years afterwards. We will never leave you hanging in your recovery, and this surgery can change your entire life for the better!

What else do you need to know?

Our team can help you understand every step of the process from the financial side of thing to what your recovery will be like. It's understandable to be a little nervous before a big surgery, and we are here to help answer your questions.

You should expect to not be walking without assistance for a few months after surgery. As far as exercise and sports go, it might take closer to 8-12 months to get you back to your previous fitness level. This is a big surgery, but your physical therapy will put you in a position to be even more physically fit than you were before having it done!

As far as safety goes, there's not a lot to consider unsafe or at risk with this surgery. Like any procedure, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions and you might find yourself off your feet for a while. But, as long as you follow your doctor’s directions, everything will be just fine.

For More Information

Our team understands everything you are going through when questioning limb lengthening surgery. Reach out and contact us today, as we are standing by to talk you through any questions you might have. There is no question too big or too small. We want you to feel comfortable with your decision about having surgery.