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[Roger1300]

He apparently already had an ITB release during the surgery, so I'm not sure if he can do it again now?

[thankscience]

I’m curious to know how squatting is with such a large increase to the femurs.

[c]

I’m curious to know how squatting is with such a large increase to the femurs.

你不觉得他做的太多了吗？ 我只建议大腿6厘米最多

[thankscience]

How are you going now 1 year later?

[Dirona]

How are you Sir?

[SirStretchAlot]

Hi guys, appologies for the long hiatus. Work has consumed me for the past few months. Here's the 14 month update!

Pros
1) Height increase has significantly improved my dating pool and experience. Compared to my career and face, height had always been my weakness. Dating app matches have more than doubled, and the confidence of being taller than other guys frees your mind from the insecurity. This allows you to be more alpha in pursuit, which most women prefers.
2) No further degradation in nail or screw structure beyond the slight upward screw bend that happened 3 months in.
3) No apparent walking gait
4) Can jog and squat lightly
5) Right and left leg length descrepency closed from 0.6mm to 0.1mm

Cons
1) New bones are still darker on x-rays implying that they are not as dense as my natural bones. This means that I will not likely take out the nails in the immediate future. Note that this is a natural feature of weightbearing nails. They are harder than non weight-bearing nails like Precise, thus don't compress as much. This leads to less weightbearing for your bones post-lengthening, leading to slower bone densification. Regardless, the benefits of weightbearing nails still far outweighs the time difference in bone densification.
2) Since I lengthened 10cm and 10.4cm on my right and left legs respectively, recover has taken much longer than normal. My hips still feel sore if I sit for too long, and daily stretching is still required.
3) Lordosis/Duckass/Anterior Pelvis Tilt is still present under the mirror. This is due to tight hip flexors and tensor fasciae latae (attached to your iliotibial band). These muscles need to be stretched much more than your quads and hamstrings because they're much smaller.

Overall
I believe my operations has been a success. However, having needed 2 top-up surgeries for a loose screw and ITB release, made the first few months much more difficult. I am lucky to have worked with a firm that gave me medical leave, which made the entire endeavour much less burdensome financially. While I can carry on with normal life, I will likely have many more years if not a lifetime worth of stretching to do. Do note that while it is definitely possible to squat more, or do impact sports that involve your lower body, the increased length of your legs will mean that the chances of fracture will be greater. It is much easier to snap a long tree branch than a short one.

The silver lining is that post-operation, you will have learned much more about your lower body, and the need for stretching. Most people have lordosis, and this leads to back problems later on in life. I often had back pain when I walked long distances pre-op(>45min). Only after the surgery, did I know it was due to tight hip flexors and ITB. I believe with more stretching I can reach a state, where my back is less curved than pre-op, which will actually improve my posture beyond pre-op.

Good luck to your journey!

[inchesmatter]

Three years after my surgery, I have pretty annoying hip pain after sitting for awhile, such as driving my car and doing a simple errand. Getting out of the car, I look like a ninety-year-old man, stooped over. I'm not sure it will ever go away. I have to walk it off.

[thankscience]

Three years after my surgery, I have pretty annoying hip pain after sitting for awhile, such as driving my car and doing a simple errand. Getting out of the car, I look like a ninety-year-old man, stooped over. I'm not sure it will ever go away. I have to walk it off.

How much did you lengthen and what method did you use?

[inchesmatter]

Three inches. Betzbone. I didn't walk or move as much as recommended. I am a couch potato. I know of others who are not, though, and have the same problem (one guy).

[Growth.journey]

Any other long term issues? Did you get itb

[sixfootandhalf]

50.50/47.64mm

Hi guys, I have just arrived home from my ITB release surgery. Following are points of note:

Procedure
1) The technical term for "wide legs" from leg lengthening is "post-operative fixed abduction deformity of hip joints".

2) A release is done by cutting a portion of the ITB from the intermuscular septum, seperating it from nearby tissues thus freeing it. Holes can be punctured into the band itself to make it even looser. The connection to nearby tissue as well as the holes will first scar, then remodel into its original fasia over time.
*This is partly why you want to lengthen as quickly as possible, especially in the beginning, since once the band and holes heal, you will be tight again.
*Most patients with ITB release complications tend to be runners or atheletes who put too much stress on their ITB before it fully heals
*Recovered bands usually appear and function near identically to uncut bands.

3) I have experienced a 50%~ reduction in "wide leg" and was able to walk immediately after I woke up. The best part is I can already walk further than I could pre-operation.

4) Left leg is pain free. Localized pain 5/10 when moving and 2/10 when sitting still on my right. I am not taking any painkillers and the pain should disappear tomorrow. It has not affected Betbone clicking.

5) They could not fully reuse the incision from Dr Betz. This is means I will have an additional deep scar in each leg. 

Doctor/Hospital
1) Dr. Giotikas is fantastic. He is reacheable instantly through Whatsapp and is extremely knowledgeable. He noted that significant abduction is very predictable and unlikely to be completely addressed with PT.

2) Compared to Kreiskrankenhaus St. Ingbert (Betz), Mediterraneo Hospital (Giotikas) is larger and more advanced given it's in Greece's capital instead of a small town in Germany. Even though the food wasn't that much better, all nurses and staff spoke English, which is a significant plus for international patients.

Conclusion
1) It is pertinent to mention that leaving wide legs to go on can lead to many complications. Our glutes compensate for lack of strength by widening our stance. This is why overweight people walk with wider legs. By allowing your legs to stay wide (due to tight ITB), it significantly weakens your gluteus muscles. This will give you a very ugly gait, and your butt will hurt when sitting on harder surfaces. Knee pain will also worsen as they're under pressure to bend in and downwards (Knock knees).

2) For those seeking to lengthen more than 5cm, I strongly recommend a surgeon who performs ITB release. For weight-bearing nails in Europe, the only alternative is Dr Guichet who uses a very similar nail to Betz but performs ITB release. He works in Milan and London.

3) If weight-bearing isn't your sole priority, then I would definitely go Giotikas with Precise (available in EU by August). You get more, and better service, for a lower price. Had I done the release during the initial operation, it would be free and I would not have needed to go through another general anesthasia, incision and flight -- recipies for more infection/scars/complications.

If you are one of the unlucky ones who has pain clicking in at least one leg, and have tight IT Bands, Betz would be a poor consideration. Remember, TFL is a very small muscle, and the ITB does not respond to stretching well. It's not something hard work can completely overcome. My wide legs reduced my mobility as much as non-weight-bearing nails would have. It is definitely not an "optional" procedure for many. Not doing it is deviating from standard practice.

Here's a video of how it's done. The actual incision is smaller than in the video.

Dr Betz has now become the complete package, and we are so grateful  he offers excellent lengthening and ITB release together.

Would you recommend we go for the soft ITB release, or the full one?

[balme]

Dr Betz has now become the complete package, and we are so grateful  he offers excellent lengthening and ITB release together.

Would you recommend we go for the soft ITB release, or the full one?

you seem to be obsessed with "soft" ITB release. why you care that much about not having ITB release like all US doctors offer?

[Limblengtheningwarrior]

How are you now ?

[Ak95]

Hey guys do you think 4,5 cm wir betzbone would be a Good Choice and fast recovery ? ( 4,5cm in femurs)

[Kanye Western]

Do you think it's worth the 60k just to do 4-5cm?

Hey guys do you think 4,5 cm wir betzbone would be a Good Choice and fast recovery ? ( 4,5cm in femurs)

[Ak95]

Yes i think it is Worth. Better recovery and better proportions of femur and tibia. I think this amount would fix my height neurosis

[Kanye Western]

What's your current height?

Yes i think it is Worth. Better recovery and better proportions of femur and tibia. I think this amount would fix my height neurosis

[RealLostSoul]

Do you think it's worth the 60k just to do 4-5cm?

I agree with you on that totally. Yes the less cm the quicker your recovery but I must say to me personally the very least amount that would have been worth it was 7cm. Bc that’s about when I truly felt that I gained length. Even visually when looking down at my legs etc.

[Ak95]

Dayheight 165-165,5 cm

[oklama]

Dayheight 165-165,5 cm

same height as you, just do 8 man, 3 more cms, what if later you regret not doing it, being 170 is okay but 173 is a very normal height in the usa just lower average rather than short like 165 is. unless you are in like an asian country or India then ignore what im saying

[sixfootandhalf]

Did Goitikas do the full ITB release or did he do a soft release?

[LaFlame]

I’m also a former patient of Dr. Betz and damn do I relate so much to these issues addressed in this diary. I also struggled severely from wide legs and duck ass, and was told to basically stretch + his very slow replies to my emails regarding any concern.
I lengthened 9 cm, and even 3 years post op, I am struggling with tight hips and the worst part “snapping hip” when I walk. And this never went away, although my wide legs and duck as has improved it was slightly present when narrowing my leg and standing straight. No amount of stretching or PT has adequately helped - and it only helps to a certain point.

I had to get my it band release by Dr. Becker last week and it immediately fixed my snapping hip.
So yeah, anyone doing a great amount of cm, should be offered an it-band release at least.

[Siegfried]

I lengthened 9 cm, and even 3 years post op, I am struggling with tight hips and the worst part “snapping hip” when I walk. And this never went away

What exactly do you mean by snapping hip?

[lessthanavg8300]

What exactly do you mean by snapping hip?

You would know if you have it.  Basically your IT band is tight and snaps around your curved hips due to the tension.  Makes walking unnatural.  Its the last thing that gets solved because you really need things to get loose for it to go away and its tough to stretch that last bit.

[LaFlame]

@Siegfried basically what lessthanavg8300 is describing. A very weird sensation and freaks out other people for sure lol. My gf was terrified when she felt the "pop"

[sixfootandhalf]

This is so mind blowing. I can't emphasize this enough guys, medical research has shown that the ITB  band is fairly resistant to stretching. Stretching is so important yes, but so much evidence and an incredible ammount of testimony here has been precisely in favour of the ITB release.

I am so happy your problem was resolved.

I am due to have my surgery, and  i genuinely will beg for a full ITB  release. I don't want to pay this much money only to stop early because for me, if i get those complication it might stop me from getting past the length i want.

[sixfootandhalf]

Hey let us know if you'll return for an update?

I also found this, which corroborates what you've said about the ITB release you had with Goitikas

Read this: https://uesca.com/it-band-syndrome-myths-and-facts/

"Let’s first address stretching. The ITB is a very tough structure. In fact, in a 2010 study by Falvey et al., a strain gauge was used to test various stretches on the ITB and the result was that the ITB was unaffected.
Therefore, it is highly unlikely that stretching will have any effect on the ‘tightness’ of the ITB."

I highly recommend reading this: https://www.painscience.com/articles/iliotibial-band-syndrome-stretch.php

"Even if you do everything right, even if you perform the ideal stretch and manage to pull firmly on your IT band for a couple minutes — which is longer than most people ever bother — how much would you actually change the length of your IT band? How far would it move?

Roughly 2 millimeters — an overall change in length of less than half a percent.

You still won’t actually change its length, any more than you can make a leather belt longer by pulling on it. This is the most important thing IT band stretchers need to understand."


And also this: https://thedoctorsofpt.com/it-band-pain-myth-v-reality/#:~:text=Myth%202%3A%20The%20ITB%20can,to%20actually%20induce%20a%20stretch.

"Myth 2: The ITB can and should be stretched
Since the ITB is made up of fascia, which is different from a muscle, it’s nearly impossible to stretch it. It would take way more force than we’re capable of producing on our own, to actually induce a stretch. This is a good thing – since the roles of the ITB are to stabilize the side of the knee and provide energy storage and release during running, we don’t really want it to be stretchy anyway. "

[sphenopetroclival]

If you have recent imaging data please put it at this thread. Redact any information that could be used to dox you.

[SirStretchAlot]

Hi guys, it has been 2 years since my surgery. Here's an update.

1) As discussed in the thread, ITB release is critical. I have had both of my legs released, but my right hip is still tight. It occasionally has a popping sensation mentioned below as well. It was coincidently also the one I had pain clicking. It is just a tighter leg.

2) I do not have a visible gait.

3) My hip and hamstrings muscles have fully recovered. However, the quads are thin and difficult to train since I have begun to have knee problems.

4) The most important story is the chronic knee pain. My left knee had always been the easier leg to click, stretch and recover. However, this may also be the reason why it is now chronically in pain. I suspect the femur-tibia traction is off. I do not know if it is due to the lengthening surgery, ITB release, or my poor squatting posture. Note that people with elongated femurs will always put more stress on their knees when squatting the same depth, given a longer angular distance / leverage point.

Already contacted Betz, Giotikas, and generic physiotherapists to no avail. Might enlist more professional knee therapists. Would appreciate any of your insights as well!

Thanks

[thankscience]

Thanks for the update. Have you taken the nail out yet?

[throwaway123456]

3 years (RHS 8cm Precice femur) , one year (LHS Precice Femur 8cm) post surgery, both knees click and pop more so than pre-surgery, now both knees are stiff all the time and the LHS TFL gives me pain almost constantly esp. noticeable if knees are bent for a few minutes of sitting then trying to stand up, usually have to grab something to pull me up or push off with hands - yes like an old man.
Squatting pre surgery was easy, and i could squat 100 lbs no problem, and could deep Asian squat (like squatting in a rice paddy field) for 15 minutes easy with no pain , but now max squats with no weights at all is like 15 reps before knees/thigh give out, esp left knee gives me pain, I cannot really deep squat now at all, note I usually do 100 full pushups, groin stretches (Yoga poses) and 4*10 body squats per day, I ride my bike daily to work and gym 3 times a week I am 66kg at 5 10.5 and not unfit, during squats i now have to lean back and keep my hands locked behind my neck to stop myself toppling over forwards.
I walk ~ 2 klms at least daily and my tibs (frontalis muscles) get very pumped to the point I have to slow my walking and let the pump dissipate before I can pick up  the pace again, this maybe due to my new T/F ratio of 0.72, my running is comical and slow, I hate this tbh as I was fast before surgery, I have considered lengthening Tibs to help the T/F ratio as this may solve the walking running issues?.