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[Jack1066]

Hi! I'm a slightly shorter than average guy, wanting to increase my height from 5'8 to the average around here (5'11, although I can do less if it's dangerous otherwise- I'd rather be shorter than average but with better functionality, and no really weird looking proportions). I'm 21 years old and would do the surgery in about 18 months, when I'd be just 23.

I've included a photo of my lower body which should help provide ratios to help mock-up what kind of size would look good. I measured my femur and tibia on my right leg (which is about 3/4 inch shorter than my left leg) and came out with about 38 cm on the tibia and 45 cm on the femur, but I'm not sure if that's right. Anyway, if it is it seems I'd have to lengthen the tibia which is the surgery that takes the longest to recover from and is most prone to complications if I am correct.

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2cr63wh&s=9

I'm not rich, so I can't afford Paley or Guichet (unless I inherit money soon, which is a real possibility, but can't be counted on) so I'd have to go to China, India or maybe Eastern Europe.

I'd only want to do surgery once, either way. Do you think 3 inches would be possible? With a good doctor, I might want that: either way, I'd be very happy to hit 5'10, because nobody would probably notice the difference at that height. :-)

[DreamOf180cm]

3 inches is high risk imo. I would do 5.5cm max on tibia OR 6.5cm max on femurs. Nobody will know the different between 5'10 and 5'11. 5'10 is a great height!

[Whereintheworld?]

There have been quite a few people who have gone to India or Russia and lengthened 7-9 cm, but nearly all of them have had complications which result in their being in frames for more than a year-others have had their frames removed but continue to have problems. The popular idea on this forum holds 5cm as the 'safe' number and while this may be true, there are many people who run into problems before 5cm while some go well beyond without major issues. You'll tire of hearing this, but it's all individual.
If you will have money for one of the lower end surgeons (financially speaking at least) at the age of 23, why not wait until you're 25 so you can afford the 'better' ones?
Don't put yourself on a time line.

[Jack1066]

Thanks for the advice :-) 5'10 is good enough. I'd have to do x rays and go by the doctor's advice to determine the best lengths,  although if I have a cheaper doctor I think it'd really probably pay to know what I'm doing myself (incidentally, what are the Chinese and Indian doctors like?)

Thanks whereintheworld, but the others cost almost 3x the price and it'd take too long to save for them (max I can realistically save is 10000 euros a year).

That said if I inherit in the next year I will have a ton of cash, but it's unlikely I'll inherit it- it'll probably go to my uncle.

[onemorefoot]

just curiosity, is your knee height 52 cm??? Sitting height?

[Jack1066]

53 cm from the sole of the foot to the top of the kneecap, sitting down. Good guess! How come?

[onemorefoot]

Based on other users x-rays whose knee height is 52.5.53 cm, are you 5 8" with the shorter leg or the longer? I guess your SH should be 91 cm-92 cm.

[Jack1066]

With the shorter and longer both on the ground I scrape 5'8, with the left leg only I'm close to 5'9. What is SH?

[Jack1066]

If you mean leg length, it's 91cm on the right leg.

[onemorefoot]

SH= Sitting height, oh, so you are really 5 9".  If you go for this surgery I would suggest you to go for tibia first, reaching 5 11", keep in mind that the lengthening in one leg has to be more than in the another leg. 2 cm is big discrepancy, maybe your secure can pay for this. I guess that height is in the afternoon, in the morning you should be above 5 9".

[onemorefoot]

Should be difficult walking with a 2 cm discrepancy, do you use insoles in the right leg?

[Jack1066]

I would not say I am really 5'9 (wouldn't be bothered with this kind of surgery then probably) because when I am standing normally I am 5'8. It is closer to a 1.5 cm discrepancy, more like 2/3rds of an inch really. My sitting height seems to be 128 cm with my legs at right angles.

[Jack1066]

It is not hard walking but I walk a bit strangely and I do use an insole.

[Jack1066]

In the morning I am 5'8.5, in the afternoon/evening 5'8.

[Jack1066]

If I stand on my left leg in the morning I think I reach exactly 5'9 actually a but I don't think that counts :p

[onemorefoot]

Let me see if I understand:
Height in the afternoon with left leg: 174-175 cm      Morning: 175.5-176  cm
Height in the afternoon with right leg: 172.5-173 cm Morning: 174.2 cm

Knee height with the longest leg( left): 53 cm

[Jack1066]

My height doesn't range that much. Morning height on longest leg, 174. 5 cm.  On both legs, 173cm flat.  In the evening it goes down by about a cm, so 172-173.5cm. Sorry for the lack of clarity. Also, my wingspan is about 175 cm if that's important.

[Jack1066]

Yep, 53cm.