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[FreyaStone]

Hi everyone,

I'm aware that this forum is in fact for the opposite surgery, but I can't find any resources for people interested in height reduction surgery. I'm a woman that lives in Europe where the population is short and I'm so tired of being tall (180 cm). If I were a model, then being tall would be sufferable, but I'm not and will never be. I just want to have a normal height.

One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other, but I guess that not by much because I don't wear anything special for correction. I would like to decrease my height by 5-7 cm (I wouldn't mind being even shorter but it would be too noticeable and I don't think it would be safe or possible. Also, my arms are already very long and I have a super big head so proportions would be way off). I guess I just don't want to be taller than most of the population.

Are the surgeons that perform leg lengthening also experienced in leg shortening? How risky is the surgery and how long does it take to recover? Would it be better to have it done in the femur or the tibia? Does anybody have an estimate of prices?

Thank you for your kindness. I'm aware that asking this question in a forum for the opposite might offend some, but that's not my intention at all. I'm simply desperate, height as a woman is not a blessing but a curse.

[Worzezterlire]

Debiparshad joked that he does limb reduction surgery too, but I think he actually does.  In Europe I’m fairly confident Betz does it.

Edit: and no, nobody should be offended by your question.  Life as a non-model tall woman is fairly difficult, men discriminate against tall women when dating and crack jokes about them all the time.  I’ve heard that leg shortening can be fairly difficult to do since I don’t know if it uses the same principle of bone distraction, though if it’s possible to do it that way I (not as a doctor) don’t see why you couldn’t drop 3-5 inches even.  Probably would want to spread it between segments, focusing on reducing tibias more because they’ll look longer in heels anyways.

Best of luck!

[Thorfinnn]

There are doctors that do it, but it will be different than regular LL because your not really stretching the soft tissues out a lot.

[FreyaStone]

Debiparshad joked that he does limb reduction surgery too, but I think he actually does.  In Europe I’m fairly confident Betz does it.

Thank you so much! I don't think I could afford surgery in the USA unless I sold both of my kidneys.

I live in Spain. I've thought of consulting Dr. Alex Monegal and Javier Downey. I'll also will be going to Korea for a month and a half this summer, I was thinking of maybe consulting Dr. Donghoon Lee.

I'm basically open to options in Europe and Asia. Europe is better right now because entry to most Asian countries right now is impossible thanks to Covid. I don't really have anything against the USA except that I imagine that it's super expensive.

There are doctors that do it, but it will be different than regular LL because your not really stretching the soft tissues out a lot.

Thank you so much! Different as in even worse? I've read that if there are leg asymmetries and you are already an adult most surgeons prefer to lengthen the shorter one, so I'm afraid.

[Worzezterlire]

There are doctors that do it, but it will be different than regular LL because your not really stretching the soft tissues out a lot.

I would imagine compressing them might have similar issues as well, like muscle hypertrophy or weird sensations.  I can only imagine that it has to use a slow distraction approach as well, maybe the doctors cut out a few inches of bone and use a nail to slowly create union?

That’s how I would imagine it at least.  For clavicle lengthening and shortening this isn’t an issue since it’s only one inch overall usually, which is only 2.5cm.  For shoulders that’s very feminizing but for OP doing that per segment would only get her to 175.  Still tall as a woman but not to the point she’d stick out.  My sister is 5’9 and doesn’t get teased for it in the United States, but if OP is from Spain people are a bit shorter there.

I have a strong feeling based on my limited knowledge you can easily knock off at least 5cm, OP.

[FreyaStone]

I would imagine compressing them might have similar issues as well, like muscle hypertrophy or weird sensations.  I can only imagine that it has to use a slow distraction approach as well, maybe the doctors cut out a few inches of bone and use a nail to slowly create union?

That’s how I would imagine it at least.  For clavicle lengthening and shortening this isn’t an issue since it’s only one inch overall usually, which is only 2.5cm.  For shoulders that’s very feminizing but for OP doing that per segment would only get her to 175.  Still tall as a woman but not to the point she’d stick out.  My sister is 5’9 and doesn’t get teased for it in the United States, but if OP is from Spain people are a bit shorter there.

I have a strong feeling based on my limited knowledge you can easily knock off at least 5cm, OP.

Thank you!!! I don't know if you read my answer to your previous post, we wrote at almost the same time.

Honestly, 5'8''-5'9'' (173-175) would be my ideal achievable height. I'd prefer 5'7'' (170) but I don't think it's obtainable for me, or if it is, I think it would be too obvious.

I didn't even know they did clavicle reduction. What kind of surgeon performs that surgery?

I tried to measure my arm span and I think it's around 185 cm. My arms are strangely long, because I don't think my shoulders are particularly wide (nor narrow). Or maybe I just fked up the measurements because I was taking them alone.

[Worzezterlire]

I actually consulted with dr Leif Rogers about clavicle lengthening, since I’m debating it after my femur operation to make my frame more like that of a tall man.  He also does reduction and he does it more commonly, it’s also much safer than lengthening though both are safe.

Barry Eppley does it as well, he is a very multitalented and world class surgeon so I’m sure he does it extremely successfully as well.

Edit: for those who are curious about clavicle lengthening — Eppley uses a graft from your fibulas to lengthen, last I checked on his website, but I think he’s open to the sliding technique as well.  Dr Rogers uses a sliding technique instead.  I’m unsure which is better but it’s a very niche surgery.  Fortunately both are world class surgeons, it’s a matter of which style you would prefer.  For shortening, AFAIK it’s identical — they cut out clavicle bone, connect the two ends with plates, and let you heal.

[FreyaStone]

I actually consulted with dr Leif Rogers about clavicle lengthening, since I’m debating it after my femur operation to make my frame more like that of a tall man.  He also does reduction and he does it more commonly, it’s also much safer than lengthening though both are safe.

Barry Eppley does it as well, it’s not his specialty but I visited him for a different surgery and I have to say he is an extremely good surgeon too.  I don’t think you’d go wrong with either of them.  They can remove 1” total from your shoulders which would also technically make your wingspan shorter by an inch, giving you a 182ish wingspan.

Thank you! So much info, wow. Honestly, for the time being I'm OK with my arm length and shoulder width. It's a hassle that often I have to size up in clothes and still coats, blazers and blouses will still be too short in the sleeves, but it's not a hang up that I have like height that actually hinders my quality of life. Besides, I fence and do archery and having long arms is actually very useful for those sports.

[tallmen]

Hi everyone,

I'm aware that this forum is in fact for the opposite surgery, but I can't find any resources for people interested in height reduction surgery. I'm a woman that lives in Europe where the population is short and I'm so tired of being tall (180 cm). If I were a model, then being tall would be sufferable, but I'm not and will never be. I just want to have a normal height.

One of my legs is slightly shorter than the other, but I guess that not by much because I don't wear anything special for correction. I would like to decrease my height by 5-7 cm (I wouldn't mind being even shorter but it would be too noticeable and I don't think it would be safe or possible. Also, my arms are already very long and I have a super big head so proportions would be way off). I guess I just don't want to be taller than most of the population.

Are the surgeons that perform leg lengthening also experienced in leg shortening? How risky is the surgery and how long does it take to recover? Would it be better to have it done in the femur or the tibia? Does anybody have an estimate of prices?

Thank you for your kindness. I'm aware that asking this question in a forum for the opposite might offend some, but that's not my intention at all. I'm simply desperate, height as a woman is not a blessing but a curse.

It's much better than LL. Recovery will be much faster and you don't need precise or any of those expensive nails.

[Thorfinnn]

It's much better than LL. Recovery will be much faster and you don't need precise or any of those expensive nails.

Yes that’s what I think since the soft tissues aren’t being stretched like In LL, recovery should be easier.

[Medium Drink Of Water]

Dr. Milorad Mitkovic in Serbia might be a good choice for you.  It's not a specialty surgery so a doctor who does LL can also do LS.

Limb lengthening was actually invented by accident.  Prof. Ilizarov in Russia was trying to force the broken bones of injured soldiers together, and a nurse turned the knobs the wrong way.  Now here we all are.

[FreyaStone]

Dr. Milorad Mitkovic in Serbia might be a good choice for you.  It's not a specialty surgery so a doctor who does LL can also do LS.

Limb lengthening was actually invented by accident.  Prof. Ilizarov in Russia was trying to force the broken bones of injured soldiers together, and a nurse turned the knobs the wrong way.  Now here we all are.

Thank you so much! Unfortunately, according to Google Dr. Milorad Mitkovic passed away in April this year.

Are there any other affordable surgeons?

So far, I'm planning on contacting:

Alex Monega
Javier Downey
Betz (I've read that it's around 30-32k euros so too expensive)
Ghassan Salame
Dimitrios Giotikas
Donghoon Lee
Debiparshad (I've read that it's around 30-40k dollars so again too expensive)

I'm also trying to look into surgeons in Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, and India. I found  this post by OliveTree: http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=244.31

Does anybody know is she is now?

Thanks to you all because I truly didn't expect everybody to be this nice and helpful. I was kinda expecting getting banned because my question was off topic.

[DutchGiant]

Perhaps we should trade places.
You will fit right in the Netherlands. No surgery needed.

I wanted to leave this country, it is hell for me.
I think Spain is a much better place. I mean, the average height is quite a bit shorter.

(sorry for not serious response

[KiloKAHN]

Most leg lengthening surgeons have no experience with limb shortening, or have maybe done it a very small handful of times, so be wary of those who claim that they can do it easily with no problem. When I had my consultations years ago, a few even warned that shortening and compressing the limbs would result in an ugly cosmetic effect where the limbs look fatter since you're compressing the muscles together. 

[FreyaStone]

Most leg lengthening surgeons have no experience with limb shortening, or have maybe done it a very small handful of times, so be wary of those who claim that they can do it easily with no problem. When I had my consultations years ago, a few even warned that shortening and compressing the limbs would result in an ugly cosmetic effect where the limbs look fatter since you're compressing the muscles together.

Thank you! Sorry if I'm being too noisy, what did you have your shortening consultation for? Would maybe taking 2.5 cm from femur and 2.5 cm from tibia also have that effect? Ideally I'd rather take 5-6 cm from the femur, because it seems easier.

[Medium Drink Of Water]

I don't think there's any doctor anywhere who's done the surgery more than a few times.  Standard treatment protocol is to lengthen the shorter limb.

[SirStretchAlot]

Hey, I think most men don't mind if you're taller than they are. It's more about how they think you might mind. Plus, in northern Europe, men are slightly taller than 180 on average. You'll just be as tall as most men. I don't see any problems.

If dating is a concern, I'd lose fat, and hit the gym to grow your chest and glutes. I'm 173 now, and I'd love to date a 180 girl.