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[lifeonmars]

Hi all,

I'm an 18 year old male from the UK, measuring 5ft 5 in height. So I've wondered over this forum a number of times over the past year or two, and I feel I'd finally like to share my thought of mind. I suppose in my early life, height was never something I was too concerned about, or really ever thought about, that's probably way upto when I was 15, but over the last few years, it's become an insecurity, and something thats on my mind on a regular basis. It's rather odd, because if anything over the past few years, I'd changed an awful lot, I used to be extremely shy, but now I'm far more confident. My personality has become very different, and I'd say in a positive way. Which I suppose has been great, because I have a lot of friends now and a fairly good social life. I suppose I'm also reasonably intellectual, with fairly good grades at GCSE and I should hopefully achieve the grades to go to a good university in the next few months.

Despite things looking up generally in life, I feel more insecure about my height and appearance than I've experienced before, I think the issue for me is liking myself, which I really struggle with. It's greatly fuelled by insults which have a long lasting effect, being called 'midget, 'too small'. I also have a head size which is 23 1/3 inches, which doesn't seem to help. I guess that would look normal on somebody who is 6ft, but not so much myself. It's nothing I was even too aware of, but I've heard people say my head is too big for my body, and even on a few occasional times some pillock has yelled out of a car window, 'you have a massive head', while I've been walking. Even at one point a group of guys were laughing about it in college. I feel it's just a massive knock back. Anytime I go out now, I now wear a shoe with a fairly largish heel (1 inch), and an insert, which is usually 1 inch, but occasionally now I increase it to two inches when I'm in town. I think this has helped, and it makes my body look more proportionate, but then, it's sort of ridiculous that I have to do this to feel okay about myself.

It's usually been the twats who've made the comments, mainly guys, but once or twice a girl. Although it would probably help me being taller girl wise, it's not a huge concern, it gets me down occasionally over the issue. I've dated quite a few people, although they haven't all lasted that long ( 3/4 months) , some have been really quite attractive, and great people. The last was almost the same height as me 5ft 4, but it never proved a huge issue, although I felt I couldn't walk barefooted around her, but that's the same with most. After talking about the issue with my mum a number of times, whose always very honest and understanding, and I've told her about the surgery. she usually draws to this and says people clearly like you though. But I always respond and genuinely feel that it's not so much this, whether other people like me or not matters to a degree, but it's more to do with how I feel about myself. I think about it multiple times a week, and occasionally I get really down about it, and blame a lot on my appearance.

I'm not sure whether LL surgery is a perfect solution or not. Reading through patient experiences on the forum over the years, some seem to have been left dysfunctional, and the recovery time occasionally seems ridiculous, and in others, not too bad at all. I've always looked at Dr Guichet, and his treatment seems one of the best, however the pricing is tremendous. On his website, he claims the nail would be removed after 18 months, and if this is the full recovery times, it seems a very long period. If I could comfortably return to walking around as normal in a day to day life after 6 months, it would perhaps be more appealing. But even more so, I suppose the pain and thought of being left dysfunctional is a great worry. Also it doesn't seem many participate in such surgery, which makes me wonder whether it has major issues with this side of cosmetic surgery.

I feel like a gain to 5ft 7.5/5ft 8 would definitely be a huge confidence boost, and the thought of being able to stand on a floor without inserts and still be taller seems amazing, and it would solve the only, but one big issue I have. but really, is it genuinely worth it? I feel I should definitely talk to a psychologist about it first..?

[Nightwish]

From the same country to the same height, even the large head  I think everything you've written bar age is applicable to me - even the blimming used to be shy bit! Although I've never really had comments from people that aren't close. Would it make a difference a few inches? fk knows. Although there is some level of height discrimination I've never felt it holds me back - I have a degree from a top 20 university in the world - I have a graduate job and I also work in professional football. Dating, I've had a long term relationship where I don't think height was mentioned (she was 5'3) and since I lost weight (a much bigger issue than height) I've had some success with women. My problem is that I always compare myself with every other person around me! It does my nut in.

Is LL right for you, fk knows, only you can answer that. I genuinely believe we're at the height the gains would be most significant. Make sure you know the risks you're entering into. Guichet sounds the perfect doctor, especially with location. If you do decide to go through with it, know it can proper fk you up and don't go to just anyone got a quick easy cash fix. Justify the reason you're using that doctor. I guess the sane rational thought is to stay the fk away!

[lifeonmars]

Nice to meet you! That's really interest actually, I feel like we're both in very similar positions. I definitely notice height discrimination, but I wouldn't say it holds me back, again I should hopefully be attending a Russell group university, which hopefully I'll get a good job from. However, I do the exact same, compare myself to other people. But moreover now, it's more to do with how I feel about myself.

Comments are obviously a major hit, and even if it was mentioned over a year ago, they stick like anything and I remember the exact wording! I wouldn't say they're regular, but I'll come across them every couple of months, especially I when I used to wear absolutely flat shoes. Guichet is probably the only doctor I would consider, because wellbeing and safety is far more important than cost.  I'm sure it could still fk me up a lot, and long term complication would be life changing. Other than height, it sounds like we both have a lot of positivity in life, but those extra few inches would definitely take away the one issue I have. I notice a huge difference just wearing a larger insert, but it bugs me so much that I have to do this. It makes me feel far more confident, but it also promotes so much insecurity about my natural height. Are you yourself considered surgery, and if so or not, why?

[Nightwish]

Yeah, pretty much agree we're the same, bar I'm 26!

Yeah, comments can be a craper. Through university and into my early 20s I was fine, then I was camping and heard three (female) mates talking about me, basically saying how I was awesome and would be the perfect boyfriend if I was a few inches taller. From then on height dysphoria/ insecurity just snowballed for me. Noticed height discrimination in certain situations, e.g at a job fair where my far less qualified mate kept getting the initial approaches, although after I explained my situation that quickly changed, it was just the initial way people were with us, and it's micro situations like that I keep noticing. Of course, sometimes on the internet - e.g. reddit/short - there's an absolute clusterfk of issues listed, but my experience of life and the internets seem vastly different. Well being and safety are paramount, glad though you're aware of long term complication possibilities, it seems to me people are far too quick to dismiss them.

I am considering surgery, basically to easy my own issues. Life at 5'5 is harder than it would be at 5'7-5'8 - not by a million miles, but I do think there is a difference in perception. At 171 cm there are more males at that height than female, that to me is really the cut off point. It is also to stop myself driving me nuts, comparing myself with others, randomly being like crap, what's so and sos height?! As I say, maybe up to 2 years ago it was never something I thought about, now it's the only bleeding thing! I am considering Dr Birkholtz (subject to ToAfrica's journal) as someone who I could afford tomorrow if I wanted - subject to loans - however I have a contract until the end of September at work, nothing would be done before then. Dr Guichet would probably be first priority, but he is of course more expensive however his excellent success rate and that he's based in London - my home city - makes him very appealing, even if I have to wait a few years.

My advice to you would be to forget about this surgery, at least until your degree is done. I did my undergraduate degree outside London and my postgraduate inside London; if you're moving from home you still have a fantastic experience to have - however if you're staying in your home city it will still be bloody good! You don't know how your experiences will shape you and how it will affect this situation. Until your studies are done I would certainly try an put this at the back of your mind.

If there's anything at all you want to discuss, feel free to PM.

[Nightwish]

Yeah, pretty much agree we're the same, bar I'm 26!

Yeah, comments can be a craper. Through university and into my early 20s I was fine, then I was camping and heard three (female) mates talking about me, basically saying how I was awesome and would be the perfect boyfriend if I was a few inches taller. From then on height dysphoria/ insecurity just snowballed for me. Noticed height discrimination in certain situations, e.g at a job fair where my far less qualified mate kept getting the initial approaches, although after I explained my situation that quickly changed, it was just the initial way people were with us, and it's micro situations like that I keep noticing. Of course, sometimes on the internet - e.g. reddit/short - there's an absolute clusterfk of issues listed, but my experience of life and the internets seem vastly different. Well being and safety are paramount, glad though you're aware of long term complication possibilities, it seems to me people are far too quick to dismiss them.

I am considering surgery, basically to easy my own issues. Life at 5'5 is harder than it would be at 5'7-5'8 - not by a million miles, but I do think there is a difference in perception. At 171 cm there are more males at that height than female, that to me is really the cut off point. It is also to stop myself driving me nuts, comparing myself with others, randomly being like crap, what's so and sos height?! As I say, maybe up to 2 years ago it was never something I thought about, now it's the only bleeding thing! I am considering Dr Birkholtz (subject to ToAfrica's journal) as someone who I could afford tomorrow if I wanted - subject to loans - however I have a contract until the end of September at work, nothing would be done before then. Dr Guichet would probably be first option, but he is of course more expensive, however his excellent success rate and that he's based in London - my home city - makes him very appealing, even if I have to wait a few years.

My advice to you would be to forget about this surgery, at least until your degree is done. I did my undergraduate degree outside London and my postgraduate inside London; if you're moving from home you still have a fantastic experience to have - however if you're staying in your home city it will still be bloody good! You don't know how your experiences will shape you and how it will affect this situation. Until your studies are done I would certainly try an put this at the back of your mind.

If there's anything at all you want to discuss, feel free to PM.