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[Mini0510]

Hi height journey, congrats on finishing

I plan to do femirs first to get max length. I know Dr. ASSAYAG recommends to wait a year to do tibia lengthening.

Am I able to do tibia after 4 months after femur surgery? I just don't want to recover fully and then break my legs again

[Height Journey]

Hi height journey, congrats on finishing

I plan to do femirs first to get max length. I know Dr. ASSAYAG recommends to wait a year to do tibia lengthening.

Am I able to do tibia after 4 months after femur surgery? I just don't want to recover fully and then break my legs again

If you want to get maximum length (8cm femurs + 5cm tibias), then you will need to wait 12 months between the surgeries. That's because you need that much time to stretch and recover your muscles, nerves, and soft tissues for the next surgery. They are all interconnected.

If you are going for less combined length (about 10cm combined), then you can wait as early as 3 to 4 weeks to do the next surgery.

[Mini0510]

If you want to get maximum length (8cm femurs + 5cm tibias), then you will need to wait 12 months between the surgeries. That's because you need that much time to stretch and recover your muscles, nerves, and soft tissues for the next surgery. They are all interconnected.

If you are going for less combined length (about 10cm combined), then you can wait as early as 3 to 4 weeks to do the next surgery.

so you did femurs, stayed 3 months baltimore for the lengthening and physical therapy. Then went home recover for a year, then went back to do the tibias?   

[Height Journey]

so you did femurs, stayed 3 months baltimore for the lengthening and physical therapy. Then went home recover for a year, then went back to do the tibias?   

Close. I stayed in Baltimore for almost 4 months (2.8 months to lengthen and 1 month in consolidation). Then I returned a little over 1 year after the femur surgery to lengthen tibias and fix an external tibial torsion problem.

[Mini0510]

Close. I stayed in Baltimore for almost 4 months (2.8 months to lengthen and 1 month in consolidation). Then I returned a little over 1 year after the femur surgery to lengthen tibias and fix an external tibial torsion problem.

oh ok. and you are overall satisfied with Dr Assayag and his team? and areas can be improved on? I like the way Dr Assayag thinks and expresses in his interview with Cybor4life. It seems like a cheaper option than Paley and just as good.

[Height Journey]

oh ok. and you are overall satisfied with Dr Assayag and his team? and areas can be improved on? I like the way Dr Assayag thinks and expresses in his interview with Cybor4life. It seems like a cheaper option than Paley and just as good.

I give a positive recommendation for Dr Assayag and his team. That's why I chose him over Paley - lower price but just as good, skilled, and reliable.

[Height Journey]

Day 84 – Done 2mm Re-Lengthening, Why the Discrepency? +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/06/day-84-done-2mm-re-lengthening-why-the-discrepency-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[Mini0510]

I give a positive recommendation for Dr Assayag and his team. That's why I chose him over Paley - lower price but just as good, skilled, and reliable.

Dr. Assayag replied to me when i asked him if i can do tibias 4months after femurs.


It is possible to do that.

I have two recommendations if going that route:

1. doing tibia first, then femurs 4 months later
2. starting with femurs and using a suprapatellar incision for the tibia lengthening (due to quadriceps tightness). such an incision allows for a more accurate and safer tibia lengthening


I appreciate him taking time to answer my question. He seems really friendly and knowledgeable

[Height Journey]

Dr. Assayag replied to me when i asked him if i can do tibias 4months after femurs.


It is possible to do that.

I have two recommendations if going that route:

1. doing tibia first, then femurs 4 months later
2. starting with femurs and using a suprapatellar incision for the tibia lengthening (due to quadriceps tightness). such an incision allows for a more accurate and safer tibia lengthening


I appreciate him taking time to answer my question. He seems really friendly and knowledgeable

Yes, you can do your femur surgery 4 months after your tibia surgery. You can even do it as early as 3 weeks. However, the shorter the time between the 2 surgeries, the less total maximum length you can achieve. This is because the soft tissues (nerves, blood vessels, skin, and especially the muscles and tendons) around your lower and upper legs are interconnected. So you need as much time to stretch out and for your body to recover from the stretching.

Assuming you are doing 5cm tibias, here are approximate estimates of the maximum length you can achieve on your femurs, based on the time between the 2 surgeries.
3 weeks: 5cm femurs
4 months: 6.0-6.5 cm femurs
12 months: 8cm femurs

[Mini0510]

the original question i asked was
Is it possible to do femurs first for 7-8cm and then do the tibias 4 months later for 5cm?

i guess it depends on the patient healing process

[Height Journey]

the original question i asked was
Is it possible to do femurs first for 7-8cm and then do the tibias 4 months later for 5cm?

i guess it depends on the patient healing process

Yes, it's possible. But it depends on your flexibility and body's healing ability. You need some time to stretch your muscles out. I'm a bit skeptical about 4 months, but it is possible. I think at least 6 months is better.

[Height Journey]

Day 88 – Physical Therapy Progress, Updates to Equipment and Supplies Pages, +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/10/day-88-physical-therapy-progress-updates-to-equipment-and-supplies-pages-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[sixfootandhalf]

I am following your journey, i love how meticulous you are!

How tall are you going to be by the end of this all?

I see you did 7cm on Femurs.  Did you get an ITB release (soft or proper?) , and would you dissuade me from attempting 7.5cm -7.99cm (no more than 7.99 max) on femurs?

[Height Journey]

I am following your journey, i love how meticulous you are!

How tall are you going to be by the end of this all?

I see you did 7cm on Femurs.  Did you get an ITB release (soft or proper?) , and would you dissuade me from attempting 7.5cm -7.99cm (no more than 7.99 max) on femurs?

I'm going to be a few mm under 180cm or 5'11" barefoot, which is effectively 180cm or 5'11".

I got an IT band release with my femur surgery. I don't know what you mean by soft or proper.

For your goal length on femurs, I say go for all 8cm if you can. If you can't reach 8cm because of muscle tightness or limited time, then lengthen as much as you can.

[sixfootandhalf]

I'm going to be a few mm under 180cm or 5'11" barefoot, which is effectively 180cm or 5'11".

I got an IT band release with my femur surgery. I don't know what you mean by soft or proper.

For your goal length on femurs, I say go for all 8cm if you can. If you can't reach 8cm because of muscle tightness or limited time, then lengthen as much as you can.

Wow, you're going to be 1.8m tall and probably easily 6'0 in shoes. That is amazing.

If i spent the next 6-7 months prior to any surgery stretching,  being able to do the splits, etc, getting very flexible / stretching 2-3 hours a day, would i have any real advantage.

[Height Journey]

Wow, you're going to be 1.8m tall and probably easily 6'0 in shoes. That is amazing.

If i spent the next 6-7 months prior to any surgery stretching,  being able to do the splits, etc, getting very flexible / stretching 2-3 hours a day, would i have any real advantage.

Yes, the more flexible you are (especially around the hips and legs), the better your chances of reaching maximum lengths.

[Mini0510]

Yes, the more flexible you are (especially around the hips and legs), the better your chances of reaching maximum lengths.

How do i tell if i'm (super) flexible?  See how high i can kick? and how also backwards as well?

[Height Journey]

Day 96 – Physical Therapy Progress in Early to Mid Consolidation, +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/18/day-96-physical-therapy-progress-in-early-to-mid-consolidation-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[Height Journey]

How do i tell if i'm (super) flexible?  See how high i can kick? and how also backwards as well?

For femur lengthening surgery, some flexibility tests to see if you are satisfactorily flexible.

1) Hamstring - Lie down on a PT table or something similar. Have someone raise one leg up while your leg is straight at the knee. Other leg and body stays on PT table. 90 degrees is satisfactory.

2) Quadriceps - Stand up on one leg. With the other leg, bend your leg and bring the heel next to your butt. Use your hand to hold the  ankle to stretch the quad. If your heel is within 2 inches of your butt, quad flexibility is satisfactory.

3) Adductors - Sit on a floor with legs straight out and try to do a straddle split. If the angle of your legs is 100 degrees, it is satisfactory.

If you can do better than satisfactory, then you are even more flexible.

[Height Journey]

Day 100 – Brief PT Progress with AlterG, Why Limit Tibial Lengthening to 5cm? +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/22/day-100-brief-pt-progress-with-alterg-why-limit-tibial-lengthening-to-5cm-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[Height Journey]

Day 105 – Physical Therapy Progress with AlterG Treadmill, +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/27/day-105-physical-therapy-progress-with-alterg-treadmill-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[hippo60]

Wow that treadmill looks great! How does it feel?
Also wanted to thank you for updating the equipment list! I just went over it and it's super helpful 

[Siegfried]

Hey HJ,

when do you estimate to be off crutches and full weightbearing?

[Height Journey]

Wow that treadmill looks great! How does it feel?
Also wanted to thank you for updating the equipment list! I just went over it and it's super helpful 

The AlterG is great. I'm actually walking with just enough weight so it is within limits of what my legs and internal nails can handle.

[Height Journey]

Hey HJ,

when do you estimate to be off crutches and full weightbearing?

I estimate early November I will be on forearm crutches and early December I will be walking independently (full weight bearing on one leg).

[Height Journey]

Day 108 – Tibial Torsion Correction and Information, +3.7cm (1.46 inch)

https://heightjourney.wordpress.com/2022/10/30/day-108-tibial-torsion-correction-and-information-3-7cm-1-46-inch/

[hippo60]

Can you share a little bit about your decision to stop at 7cm and 3.5cm? I was trying to find it in one of your posts but not that easy 
Also, did you wait 1 year between the surgeries? Do you think you could've done it sooner?
And does he offer the simultaneously lengthening like Paley does?

[Height Journey]

Can you share a little bit about your decision to stop at 7cm and 3.5cm? I was trying to find it in one of your posts but not that easy 
Also, did you wait 1 year between the surgeries? Do you think you could've done it sooner?
And does he offer the simultaneously lengthening like Paley does?

I have so many posts and videos that it's not easy to find certain information. Let's take one question at a time.

How Much to Lengthen for Limb Lengthening Surgery
https://youtu.be/c-ritg5V818

At 5:57 in the video above explains why I stopped at 7cm femurs.

Tibial Hybrid Surgery Preparations (July 2) by Height Journey
https://youtu.be/38iqTr_OUbA

At 1:13 in the video above explains why I stopped at 3.5cm femurs.

I waited a little over one year between my femur and tibia surgeries. I could have done it as early as 8 months but I didn't plan for it.

Dr Assayag also offers simultaneous lengthening (about 3 to 4 weeks between each segment surgery).

[hippo60]

I have so many posts and videos that it's not easy to find certain information. Let's take one question at a time.

I waited a little over one year between my femur and tibia surgeries. I could have done it as early as 8 months but I didn't plan for it.

Dr Assayag also offers simultaneous lengthening (about 3 to 4 weeks between each segment surgery).

Thank you! Maybe you can create an FAQ page on your blog with links / answers to common questions? Might save you time
Why you could start "as early as 8 months"? Is there a "criteria" you need to meet in terms of functionality / recovery?
And why you didn't go for the simultaneous lengthening then? Is it like Paley where you can only do 5cm on each segment?

[Height Journey]

Thank you! Maybe you can create an FAQ page on your blog with links / answers to common questions? Might save you time
Why you could start "as early as 8 months"? Is there a "criteria" you need to meet in terms of functionality / recovery?
And why you didn't go for the simultaneous lengthening then? Is it like Paley where you can only do 5cm on each segment?

Yeah, I should create a FAQ page or video sometime in the future.

I think 8 months is sufficient because I was experiencing muscle tightness and I needed time to stretch my femur muscles and calves before tibia lengthening. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get over 10cm combined. I could try the second lengthening less than 8 months but I am skeptical that I could get past 10cm combined because of muscle tightness and how the muscles and nerves are all interconnected. I would also be unable to work remotely while doing simultaneous lengthening.

Also, I didn't initially plan for tibia lengthening when I did femur lengthening, so that's why I didn't go simultaneous.

[hippo60]

I think 8 months is sufficient because I was experiencing muscle tightness and I needed time to stretch my femur muscles and calves before tibia lengthening. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to get over 10cm combined. I could try the second lengthening less than 8 months but I am skeptical that I could get past 10cm combined because of muscle tightness and how the muscles and nerves are all interconnected. I would also be unable to work remotely while doing simultaneous lengthening.

After 8 months you didn't feel any tightness anymore? You were done with the stretching / PT?
And if not, what was it like after the tibia surgery? I imagine it was much harder / impossible to stretch / PT no?
And did your femurs consolidated by then? I wonder if it has any impact on your recovery (going back to wheelchair instead of being able to push yourself to do more).

You mentioned in the video your height dysphoria was 90% "cured" after the femur surgery. I just wonder how much time you had to really "enjoy" your new height before the 2nd surgery? I imagine you were still limited in your activities.