Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Hi,

I'm a newbie here.  Have wanted to do leg lengthening since I was 14 (and I'm no spring chicken)... started researching Beijing options in 2000.  Circumstances fell into place this Spring in terms of finances, career break and am unencumbered (men wise ), if only my cat can bring home the bacon for once...

Have read through this entire forum, took lotsa notes and emailed Dr. Guichet.  After 1 week of no reply, I called his London office, left a message, and randomly dialed his French number to which he picked up unexpectedly.  I speak French, so am lucky to be able to connect asap.  He was very professional and got me an appointment within 2 days at the Princess Grace hospital in London.  I had to pre-fill a long questionnaire (https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3k4SvffTIpnLXpKUXdRcWMwaEE/view?usp=sharing) involving psychological components on self esteem, self perception and pay £300 initial consultation fees.

I live in London, so this could not be more convenient for me as I get to be home with my cat (I know, sad existence!).  I'm just grateful that I got him at such short notice.  Nevertheless, when I arrived at the appointed time, I still waited some 2 hours to see him as his flight was delayed and there were others waiting.  His personal trainer (Filippo P) was there and was kind enough to sit with me and pre-vetted all my questions.

Started speaking to a guy waiting with me and saw another girl who's just completed her surgery a week prior.  Alive!

Finally, my turn, too excited for words !!!  Dr. Guichet struck me as caring, as in he cares that I can achieve my desired result.  He's strict and speaks in statistics with graphs and charts to boot.  Don't expect charm school, he wants to ascertain you can be 100% successful.  He also questioned me hard about my motivation (I mean I sat with him for 2 hours) and he really took his time trying to understand why it is I have to torture myself to be taller... playing the devil's advocate!  He said it boils down to flexibility, willpower and genetics.

Once I was done with the psycho interrogation (I mean it's my dream since 14, how can one not be clearer about their goal?), he asked me to strip.  Uhh...  I didn't get that memo... and I wasn't dressed to the nines.  In fact, my underwear dates from 1993 with moth holes.  Poor Doc G!  He took various sitting/standing measurements, twisted my body about to check flexibility, measure maximum angles and photographed everything.

It turns out, I'm hypermobile along with my mum and grandma, all of us can split at the same time, though no one would pay for that freak show.  Doc G said I could shoot for 10cm if I wanted, which I don't.  I want 7.5-8cm without amputation or paralysis.  Simples.

After he was satisfied with the entire karma sutra repertoire, we got down to the nitty gritty of cost and timing.  He wanted me to measure my Cybex (some muscle strength/flexibility test) at the Isokinetic centre and once I have a base reading, he will operate on me when I get to 30% stronger.  He said it's because we lose 30% muscle strength right away, so having that will speed up recovery and mobility.

Did my Cybex test next day (£150) with his bone doc at the Isokinetic centre.  Nice professional facilities.  Lots of athletes and current patients of Doc G.  Was able to speak with one more who's just had surgery a week prior as well.  Alive!  He said he was not in pain as he was diligent at taking his painkillers before they wear off, just a lot of tightness and lack of flexibility. 

He gave me some really cool tips about surviving the practical stuff at home like how to pee, minimum height of furniture, shower arrangements etc, which inspired me to hire a hospital bed at home   I found this smokin' hot hospital bed which can do anything Transformer-like except slice potatoes YAY!!!  That way, I don't have to bend and strain myself.  Apparently same thing with toilet seats etc.  Need more inspiration!

Anyway, all done, Doc G gave me his invoice, tentative dates for early Aug 2016 surgery and I started training by myself for now.  Am going to do bone density test, x-rays, blood work, dental exam, ECG etc on his homework list to ensure I qualify for this surgery before I pay for the professional pre-training which is supposed to run 1-2 months.

Sorry, I'm soooooo pedantic but I'm a nerd and do research everything.  I really like Doc G, he's conservative, replies to everything himself, caring, passionate about what he does and about his patients' progress, quite dry but with an ironic sense of humour and most importantly, I feel safe in his hands.  Perhaps because we can converse in French, I can gauge his personality better?

If you guys have any tips for me about pre-training, supplements to start now (I got the list from the forum like bone strengtheners, ferrous sulfate, vitamin C, D, E, folic acid) and anything practical to prepare (hire bed, exercise bike, toilet seat heightener, walker, light crutches)...  it's going to be an epic summer of torture for me (I'm a total masochist), so this is definitely up my alley! 

Regards,
Unicorn

[paddy10tellys]

Hi Unicorn,
hope it all goes well. Will you be posting a diary?
Dr G. is cool. I met him too.
Try Yoga.
Good luck

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Yes, I hope to share the experience so others will have it even easier than us   Yes, I do yoga everyday as well.  I think my issue is not flexibility but if anything, hypermobility.  I mean, my limbs fall off like Mr. Potato when I'm not careful.  So this is going to be interesting...

As always, any tips would be appreciated.  I'm an avid learner and wisdom sharer

Unicorn

[AnotherLevel]

Very pleased to see another Dr G. Diary soon to be written as I'm almost certainly going to go with him in the next year.

Are you planning on staying at home and having the surgery in London? Do you have anyone who can help you get around after the surgery?

Can you give us an indication on pricing so we know what to expect?

Thank you so much!

[paddy10tellys]

I consider myself flexible - only to be told by Dr G., "you are too stiffff! I think it is part of his routine. Did he say it to you?

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Hi AnotherLevel,

Yes, I'm so relieved he performs the surgery in London, which will allow me to stay home and recover.  In addition, Princess Grace Hospital is very reputable, so I am quite reassured.  Also, what helps is his Isokinetic centre and post-op exams are all on Harley Street.  Basically, everything is concentrated in Marylebone, which will make my daily recovery journey more convenient.

That said, I'm trying to find a London nurse to help me with the first 2 weeks post op, as I do live alone, and my cat can't boil water to save her life.

In terms of pricing, Doc G has a pricing sheet which is very clear.  Without food/lodging, count £50k+base for surgery including 2 months post-op training, and the following are my costs so far.  Am keeping track of every expenditure

£300 initial consultation
£150 cyber (muscle/flexibility) test
£350 bone density test
£440 pre-op xray

I haven't completed blood test, ECG test, dental test yet on his homework sheet.  I'm waiting for him to ascertain that my bones are strong enough for lengthening

I'm saving £60k for this entire surgery as I'll be staying at home, and will still need to hire help/equipment/bed, buy supplements/pharma, post op exams, transportation etc.

Hope this helps.  I'm replying to the best of my knowledge, so please do not hold me liable for any misinformation.  I'll update as I figure out, ok?

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Dear Paddy10tellys,

LOL!  Mine was the exact opposite.  I'm Mrs. Potato Head, so he was frustrated that I had no thigh muscle resistance when he bent past 180 degrees.  I didn't feel any strain.  So he showed me how to exercise in a particular way to find stretch on my thigh muscle to train before surgery.

That's why when I said I wanted about 7-8cm, he said go for 10cm, which I won't   Not greedy, just wanna get to 5'6" then basta!

I understand from his personal trainer that he encourages everyone to go for more, then let us settle to what our bodies can accommodate when he can monitor progress and how our bones react.

Hope this helps!

[AnotherLevel]

Thanks for your detailed reply. So the £50k he has quoted is more than likely to include the costs that you have started detailing on your reply?

I'm very excited for you and I'm genuinely interested in doing this next summer, I'm 168 cm and I would be shooting for 6cm for a target height of 174cm. Are your worried about proportions after lengthening 8cm?

When do you hope to return back to work?

So as you have very good flexibility you don't need to do too much pre op training, is this correct? I'm a little concerned as my flexibility isn't amazing, I can barely touch my toes!

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Hi AnotherLevel,

I think count £50k as your base, then you'll need to add pre/post op exams, food, lodging etc.

As for 8cm, I'll go to 7cm hopefully, and then see if my body can support 1 more cm.  I don't think I'll have the willpower to do tibia lengthening as well.

I'm training everyday now because even though I'm flexible, my muscles are weak and I still need to prove to Doc G that I've increased 30% strength before he agrees to operate on me.  So training and training and training and training every day

Cheers!

[Mc_donald]

Hi sorry for hijacking thread. I cant seem to find new topic button. And i was just wondering if its normal for my mom and dad. Basically zombie people. Anyway they said i need a psychatrist and be "insetituionalised" for wanting this surgery. Is this a normal reaction from them from me simply wanting to look eye to eye with majority of people around me and not always me the small dude?

[Penguinn]

Your writing's entertaining to read.

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Why would you even tell your mum and dad? 
Of course, they'd send you packing in a straight jacket, just not to Doc G's unfortunately. 

Also, they're right, you'll be seeing a psychiatrist in any case.  Anyone who's willing to get both legs broken ought to see someone, zombie parents or not!

I'm not telling anyone, I'm declaring something glamorous like, "...dah-ling, I'm off to ashram G to practice yogi elevation in the hindu kush...  "

[Cheez]

Your writing's entertaining to read.

+1

Looking forward reading your diary...

[Penguinn]

How old are you?

[LLuser1]

Looks good

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

40 hitting puberty 

[LLuser1]

Why have you been wanting to be taller for so long?

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Because when my brother turned 14, my mum brewed him copious amounts of peanut root soup, which is a growth tonic according to the chinese. 

So when I turned 14, I expected the same elixir... to be told that I couldn't have any because it would give me a hairy chest.

Undeterred, I stole peanut root and concocted my own brew, and voila!  Nada!

I'm still on this forum (and on another one for circus freaks>bearded lady)

[paddy10tellys]

I'll have some of that Peanut Moonshine. I fancy a chest rug... as long as it's not ginge (joke - heightism, ageism, racism, sexism, gingism are all out of order). Pardon the Pun - do Geriatric X/boomers grow out of it? Not enjoying being short I mean... this one never did.

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Some updates...

I've met up with Doc G a second time for another 1.5 hours where he described all the risks involved and I had to sign a million docs. 

His homework list which I've just completed (phew!) - all of it took about 2 weeks :
-  Blood tests (serology, coagulation, blood group, blood count, ESR, CRP, liver tests, CTX, Alc Phosphatases £180/NHS)
-  Pre-op cardiological ECG report (NHS)
-  Pre-op dental report (£60)
-  Bone densitometry (full body, hip and spine) £450
-  EOS 3D Body xray (anterior-posterior, lower limbs) £330
-  Psychiatric consultation (1hr) £350
-  Daily supplements of folic acid and ferrous sulphate
-  Motivation essay (yes!)
-  Surgery understanding questionnaire (where he asks me to lists all the possible complications/risks by each category like bone, venal, arterial, tendon, ligament, muscular, blood, possible infections, scarring, limping, amputation, septicaemia, bone grafting, non-consolidation...etc.  It was like studying for my driver's license albeit for a guaranteed car crash/hospitalisation/rehab!!!)
-  Daily 2hr personal training (1hr cardio, 1hr alternate upper body and lower body muscle training)
-  Daily practice usage of crutches £36

He has given me a list of pre and post-operative medication and supplements to purchase.  I'm also interviewing live-in nurses for a month post surgery to help, found possible 'special care' food catering and finally, handicap cab service to help me get to my daily rehab training.  I've ordered a hospital bed that's height adjustable, raised toilet seat with arms, sports shoes with easy velcro access, lots of anti-oxidant supplements and tons of movies/books on Kindle/laptop.  I'll note my full list of meds later

That's it for now!  In the meantime, I'm hanging out with his patients at the gym and learning first hand from them.  Everyone's alive and kicking (no pun intended of course  ), and I'm really grateful to be training with his personal trainer Filippo, who is caring, babysits everyone, goes beyond his call of duty to solve ANY issues, and connects current and future patients together in a 'graduating class' so that we all learn and support each other.  I can see the motto, "Together, we stand taller..."

Am really happy with this setup, gives me something to look forward to everyday, PLUS I've shedded 5lbs and begun to have a rockin' body and buns o' steel    Too bad, it's destined for Doc G for now.

[paddy10tellys]

Hey, Unicorn - very useful update. Good work! Also, the time/money/effort ticking all those boxes demonstrates/consolidates commitment, for sure. I'm looking forward to following your lengthening. Thx.

[The View]

Good luck Unicorn

We are bound to see each other someday . I am in London now, prepping for the surgery. Fillipo is awesome!

[YellowSpike]

Sigh...Unicorn, I wish you the absolute best of luck (not that you need it with Dr G. )...but I will never understand how petite women feel the need to do this. We find you petite ladies super hot you know! But to each his/her own!

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Good luck Unicorn

We are bound to see each other someday . I am in London now, prepping for the surgery. Fillipo is awesome!

Yours is Sep?  Good, we can keep in touch   Training 2-3 hrs these days

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Sigh...Unicorn, I wish you the absolute best of luck (not that you need it with Dr G. )...but I will never understand how petite women feel the need to do this. We find you petite ladies super hot you know! But to each his/her own!

Haha!  But people walk into me like I were a fire hydrant...  that's how short I feel.  I've followed your entire journey, real impressive stuff!

[CCMidwest]

Sigh...Unicorn, I wish you the absolute best of luck (not that you need it with Dr G. )...but I will never understand how petite women feel the need to do this. We find you petite ladies super hot you know! But to each his/her own!

I agree on the petite girls being attractive thing.

I thought the same way about women doing LL until I hired one of my current personal attorneys. She's about 5' or so, and one hell of an attorney.

However, when I was defending myself during a lawsuit last year, the opposing counsel called her "small fry" several times, and it was obvious that she had to fight harder for respect than her peers. It definitely appeared to be because of height.

In the end, she DESTROYED that as*hole. 

It certainly changed my thinking on height and women.

[CCMidwest]

Still, I don't think 5'2 is short for a chick...

[YellowSpike]

Yeah I know very petite women (5'0" and under) still face discrimination in the workplace (in corporate/finance/law-type firms, at least)...but they do NOT face discrimination in the dating world. They can date short and tall men alike (although we know, they are usually the first ones running for the super tall men...not saying that Unicorn does that, but we know MANY short women do that).

But as I said, to each his/her own. Our bodies, our lives, our money!

[YellowSpike]

Haha!  But people walk into me like I were a fire hydrant...  that's how short I feel.  I've followed your entire journey, real impressive stuff!

Thank you, I really appreciate that! The only thing keeping me a bit down now is that FRIGGIN LEFT SCREW ON MY HIP!!! ARGH!!! Besides that, I feel almost entirely normal. Very happy with the result. 5'8" isn't terrible for a guy. I also have a lot else going for me...so I'll get by

[Unicorn888 by Elaine Foo]

Yeah I know very petite women (5'0" and under) still face discrimination in the workplace (in corporate/finance/law-type firms, at least)...but they do NOT face discrimination in the dating world. They can date short and tall men alike (although we know, they are usually the first ones running for the super tall men...not saying that Unicorn does that, but we know MANY short women do that).

But as I said, to each his/her own. Our bodies, our lives, our money!

I like petite men, can't deal with guys who are too tall - perpetual neck ache!   Also, it sucks to never have eye contact  

I also look very young for my age, so if I walk into a meeting room, clients usually take one look at me and yell, "Coffee please!" 

[YellowSpike]

I like petite men, can't deal with guys who are too tall - perpetual neck ache!   Also, it sucks to never have eye contact  

I also look very young for my age, so if I walk into a meeting room, clients usually take one look at me and yell, "Coffee please!" 

That's cool. I tend to prefer girls from around your (starting!) height to around 5'6"

I know what you mean. I look young for my age as well. Growing a beard helps, but when I'm clean shaven, I look significantly younger. Although some girls like the baby face look! haha