I got this email from him. Price is 42,000 euro.
But that was 8 years ago, June 2009, so prices could have changed:
Thank you for your inquiries. Here is some information about cosmetic limb lengthening at the Betz institute.
Our patients can gain up to 4 inches (10 cm.) in one operation on upper legs (femurs) or lower legs (tibias). Patients may also gain a total of 8 inches (20 cm.) in 2 operations.
1 operation on femur for 4 inches (10 cm.)
2nd operation on tibias for 4 inches (10 cm.) The amount of gain in tibias may vary from patient to patient. In many cases it is advised by Prof. Dr. Betz to lengthen up to 6-6.5 cm. in tibias.
Patients gain an average of 7-10 cm. in one bone region at the Betz institute.
The rate of lengthening is 1 millimeter per day. Every 10 days is 1 cm. Patients can gain up to 10 cm. (4 inches) in 3 ½ months.
Patients have the option of staying at the residential center at the Betz institute, rehabilitation clinic, an apartment near by, or with a local family. The prices vary depending on where you stay.
Patients can also return home after their hospital stay once they feel comfortable with the lengthening. Patients can lengthen in Germany in or near our institute or return home to lengthen. Many of our patients return home shortly after the hospital stay. It is possible for our patients to return home to lengthen 2-3 weeks after their operation.
The Albizzia, internal device used by Prof. Dr. Betz is preferred for cosmetic limb lengthening because of its many advantages. The device is completely internal, allows for immediate weight bearing, patients do not require the use of a wheelchair and may use crutches from the day after the operation, allows for a 10 cm. 4 inch gain, has extremely small scars, minimal risk of infection, simple design to eliminate risk of mechanical failure, patients are in complete control of the rate of distraction, easy monitoring and controlling, allows patients to return to home, work, or school sooner than any other device.
The internal device is the only device that allows patients full weight bearing in combination with the use of crutches during the lengthening. Other devices require the use of a wheelchair or expensive, specially made orthopedic device during and after the lengthening phase.
The recovery depends on the amount of gain. After the lengthening the bone takes approx. 6-8 weeks to consolidate enough for patients to begin walking without crutches. Please note that this time frame may vary.
Here is the timeframe of a typical limb lengthening patient
Operation/rest = 1 day
Hospital = typically 6-10 (patients can stay up to 14 days)
Lengthening = 1 millimeter per day, 3 cm. per month.
Consolidation = typically 6-8 weeks (this phase may be longer)
The whole procedure costs approx. 42,000 euros and covers the entire operation, implants, hospital stay up to 14 days, physical therapy during the hospital stay, and Prof. Dr. Betz post-operative visits. The cost to lengthen both femurs (upper legs) is approx. 42,000 euros. The cost to lengthen both tibias (lower legs) is approx. 45,000 euros.
Prof. Dr. Betz is the most experienced limb lengthening surgeon in the world with internal devices. Cosmetic limb lengthening is a routine procedure for Prof. Dr. Betz in which he has performed over 320 procedures approx. 5-7 procedures per month