Height Extension
Bangkok Pattaya Hospital specializes in the use of the llizarov method for Height Extension.
Height is usually influenced by race, gene, food, and exercise. Many people are not mentally satisfied with their height. If the dwarf is excluded, the unsatisfied height is on individual. In the past, the operation to increase the height was indicated only for the patient who had discrepancy of the leg, but now the cosmetic purpose may be one of the indications for Height Operation.
The limb lengthening began 50 years ago when a Russian orthopedic surgeon, Gavriil A Ilizarov found that if we could separate the long bone without destroying the periosteum and by increasing the gap between them day by day in a proper speed, the new bone formation could occur. Even the gap could increase more than 20 cm. This can solve a lot of orthopedic problems such as, limb length discrepancy, bone loss by an accident, bone tumor or bone infection which require bone resection.
When the surgeon resects the bone, he will apply an instrument to the patient's leg and start to lengthen the bone until it fills the gap. With time the gap will form a new bone. When the new bone is strong enough to bear the weight, the instrument will be removed.
This method can make the bone longer; therefore it can be a good choice to make people feel better and more satisfied about their heights and themselves. This is called ?Height Operation ?. Height Operation is a cosmetic surgery that has some disadvantages as well, such as:
- The duration of treatment: The speed of bone lengthening is 1 mm per day and the duration of the bone strengthening is approximately twice of the lengthening period. For example, if a patient needs 3 cm more height, he needs 30 days for lengthening the bone and 60 days for strengthening. So altogether he requires 90 days. In conclusion, approximately 1 month for 1 centimeter.
- Being with trouble: Ilizarov external Fixator is a system composed of ring frames around the patient's leg along the bone length and fixed to the bone by wires. The patient will feel inconvenient and uneasy for his daily living.
- The proportion: Not every patient can lengthen their legs as much as he/she needs. The proportion of his body is one of the main restrictions. The patient who has long body but short limb can lengthen his leg more than the patient who has a short body but long leg, even though both of them have the same height.
- Good limb lengthening has to increase the length in both thigh and leg: This means the patient must have 4 operative sites if he needs the height more than 5 cm. For the patient who needs less than 5 cm, only the lower leg will need to be increased.
Even though the way to increase the height is not easy, a lot of people still need this operation. They know that this is the only way to solve their inferiority complex. When the treatment is over, they feel more confident and much happier with their new height and look.
Please note that this information should be used only as a guide to your treatment. All specifics will be discussed with your Surgeon during your initial consultation.