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[lessthanavg8300]

Really inspiring reading this.  I have the same surgery with Betz next month.  Very helpful reading through your anxiety leading up to the surgery because I too am extremely nervous.  You've come so far and I'm really jealous of your position in getting past the hardest parts.  Im going to blank out on the plane trip and probably be in shock 24 hours before the surgery.  But im going to force myself to do this.  Its basically a year of hell through nail removal but the upside is the rest of your life as you pointed out.

My one anxiety remains if my family will call me out after surgery. Do you plan on telling yours (other than your gf)?

[Growth.journey]

Really inspiring reading this.  I have the same surgery with Betz next month.  Very helpful reading through your anxiety leading up to the surgery because I too am extremely nervous.  You've come so far and I'm really jealous of your position in getting past the hardest parts.  Im going to blank out on the plane trip and probably be in shock 24 hours before the surgery.  But im going to force myself to do this.  Its basically a year of hell through nail removal but the upside is the rest of your life as you pointed out.

My one anxiety remains if my family will call me out after surgery. Do you plan on telling yours (other than your gf)?

Thanks good to know it’s been helpful to others. If it’s any help, I was also in your exact position but I got through it. It’s really tough but I’m so glad I did it. Life is already better. To answer your question I will never tell another soul what happened. As mentioned people won’t notice because I wore lifts before and don’t anymore so the extra height gain is small. Plus people change heights all the time depending on stance floor shoes etc.

Anyway good luck for your journey happy to answer questions.

[lessthanavg8300]

Thanks man I just might have some for you once things get rolling next month.  Really appreciate it.  Ill probably start a journal myself to pay it forward.  Keep doing well.

[Growth.journey]

Day 77 - 6.4cm / height 178.4cm

Diary update 5 to 6cm

I've been a bit busy so haven't updated recently, but ill give an update on 5 to 6cm as every cm seems to be a different journey. I have read that post 5cm it gets exponentially harder every cm but that hasnt been my experience so far, though aware things may change going forward. Actually 5 to 6cm was the easiest cm i've done so far, as my sleep has been perfect only waking up to pee, no pain, no duckass, no wide legs and generally feeling pretty good.

I continue to go to the gym everyday, this is a critical step in my good result so far. Recently i have been focussing on glute exercises (floor bridges with weights), side leg lifts and leg press. I have also started going on the treadmill recently, i wish i did this earlier. I have been practicing my walk and also practising doing 1 or no hands walking as this is helpful for my gait.

Overall my gait with crutches is perfect, however my gait with 1 or no crutches is terrible, i sway and dont walk properly. its weird, i walk perfectly then take away a crutch and all of a sudden it goes to  . This is my main focus atm, as well as glutes.

I am feeling taller and starting to notice myself towering over some people e.g. at the gym, but i am only 178cm + shoes maybe 181cm. I am planning to go to maybe 8-9c which should take me to around 181cm without shoes which im happy with. ill just tell people im 6 foot, same same. but who knows i might get to 9cm and decide to do an extra cm because im doing so well. I guess the main issue when i get to this point is dimensions as well as i can already see my femurs (when i wear underpants) are looking quite long - not unnaturally so but quite long. However when i wear shorts it doesn't look weird or anything, looks very normal, but wearing underpants it highlights the length because they cut off high. But my legs look good.

A couple of times ive looked in a mirror when walking and saw my ass sticking out a bit, like small duckass, which makes me worried but then i just correct my posture and it all looks normal - i guess this is something i need to watch carefully. Can someone remind me what causes duckass so i can work preventatively on it? from memory i think it was weak glutes. I think also doing quad stretch on chair and bending back a bit can help. Any advice here would be great.

I've also notice more looks at the gym from women - possibly my new height, possibly because im also adding a lot of upper body muscle at the same time since ive been gymming everyday. But i wouldnt be surprised if my height is contributing as im starting to feel/look tall now.

I go out on weekends all day, including driving, cafes, walks etc which is good but quite tiring. Building stamina is a key focus as well - i think glute muscles, calf muscles and longer walks on treadmill will all help.

Thats all for my update now - hopefully 6-8cm is just as good.

[lessthanavg8300]

I thought tight IT bands caused duck ass.  But yours should have had a release with Betz.

"I've also notice more looks at the gym from women" Im picturing you walking like a drunken sailor getting "looks from women" lmao.  Joking - Im sure its in a positive way.

[RealLostSoul]

Hey. IT band does not directly cause duckass. It pulls on your side and makes your legs go apart and you will get that weird cowboy walk = wide legs.

Duckass is from quads (and hip flexors too). They pull on the anterior part of the pelvis if they are too short which will pull your torso forward resulting in duckass.

Focus on quads and hip flexor stretches to fight duckass.
The one where you lie on your stomach and use a band to pull the lower leg to your back is the best exercise imo.

[Taller90]

Day 77 - 6.4cm / height 178.4cm

Diary update 5 to 6cm

I've been a bit busy so haven't updated recently, but ill give an update on 5 to 6cm as every cm seems to be a different journey. I have read that post 5cm it gets exponentially harder every cm but that hasnt been my experience so far, though aware things may change going forward. Actually 5 to 6cm was the easiest cm i've done so far, as my sleep has been perfect only waking up to pee, no pain, no duckass, no wide legs and generally feeling pretty good.

I continue to go to the gym everyday, this is a critical step in my good result so far. Recently i have been focussing on glute exercises (floor bridges with weights), side leg lifts and leg press. I have also started going on the treadmill recently, i wish i did this earlier. I have been practicing my walk and also practising doing 1 or no hands walking as this is helpful for my gait.

Overall my gait with crutches is perfect, however my gait with 1 or no crutches is terrible, i sway and dont walk properly. its weird, i walk perfectly then take away a crutch and all of a sudden it goes to  . This is my main focus atm, as well as glutes.

I am feeling taller and starting to notice myself towering over some people e.g. at the gym, but i am only 178cm + shoes maybe 181cm. I am planning to go to maybe 8-9c which should take me to around 181cm without shoes which im happy with. ill just tell people im 6 foot, same same. but who knows i might get to 9cm and decide to do an extra cm because im doing so well. I guess the main issue when i get to this point is dimensions as well as i can already see my femurs (when i wear underpants) are looking quite long - not unnaturally so but quite long. However when i wear shorts it doesn't look weird or anything, looks very normal, but wearing underpants it highlights the length because they cut off high. But my legs look good.

A couple of times ive looked in a mirror when walking and saw my ass sticking out a bit, like small duckass, which makes me worried but then i just correct my posture and it all looks normal - i guess this is something i need to watch carefully. Can someone remind me what causes duckass so i can work preventatively on it? from memory i think it was weak glutes. I think also doing quad stretch on chair and bending back a bit can help. Any advice here would be great.

I've also notice more looks at the gym from women - possibly my new height, possibly because im also adding a lot of upper body muscle at the same time since ive been gymming everyday. But i wouldnt be surprised if my height is contributing as im starting to feel/look tall now.

I go out on weekends all day, including driving, cafes, walks etc which is good but quite tiring. Building stamina is a key focus as well - i think glute muscles, calf muscles and longer walks on treadmill will all help.

Thats all for my update now - hopefully 6-8cm is just as good.

Dont worry the duck ass will get away but not during the lengthening. Regarding your questions for exercises. It is enough, if you do those stretching exercises which are mentioned in the documents from Betz.

You need to wait until the lengthening is over before you are gonna notice larger improvements.

[sixfootandhalf]

Your journey is so inspiring!

What medications are you on by the way?

[Growth.journey]

Thanks! Novalgin and tramadol for painkillers but reducing slowly.
Xarelto blood thinners.
Magnesium, calcium, vitamin k2
Tizanidin muscle relaxers
Pantozol for the stomache.

The muscle relaxers don’t give you as much to get to a toilet when you gotta go!

[Growth.journey]

Update - hitting 7cm

Yestrday I hit 7cm. You start to feel quite tall around this level but I still want more. I will be at 179cm.

I have been battling covid for almost a week which was scary as I was worried it would affect my bone growth and make clicking difficult. I did the clicking anyway despite being exhausted and Daniela said not to worry about the bone growth. I’m mostly over it and feeling better which is good.

Overall no issues at all although I did get my first feeling of nerve pain. I’m not sure that’s what it was but I started getting tingly feelings in my right leg one day. I slept and it went away and hasn’t come back since but that was a bit scary.

Walking strength continues to get better. Keep working on glutea. I am practicing now walking without crutches when I go on walks, like I’ll hold
The crutches as if they weren’t there. I can walk a good distance without the crutches but I have hip sway. Does anyone have any tips on how to work on getting rid of sway? Is it core exercises?

[lessthanavg8300]

"Overall no issues at all although I did get my first feeling of nerve pain"

It seems this is where some people mess up and wish they stopped.  Pay careful attention to this.  But you know your situation far better than I.

Congrats on the 7CM, that is an absolute game changer.  Very jealous.

[Growth.journey]

"Overall no issues at all although I did get my first feeling of nerve pain"

It seems this is where some people mess up and wish they stopped.  Pay careful attention to this.  But you know your situation far better than I.

Congrats on the 7CM, that is an absolute game changer.  Very jealous.

Thankyou! It’s been hard but honest 5cm to 7cm has been pretty easy overall. It was the first 5cm that was very challenging for me at least.

On your point above about people messing up about nerve pain - I haven’t read about this at all, I have seen several where they had nerve pain, took drugs for it and went away after lengthening finished. For me I haven’t had any nerve pain just 1 moment of tingling feeing in my leg, other than that nothing.

Are you able to point me towards any journals where they have had issues from this so I can read up more in case I’ve missed it? Thanks!

[lucindaris]

How much did you pay? Did he change price for Femus?

[Growth.journey]

52000 euro , slightly cheaper than tibia .
Plus 600 euro on meds and maybe 2k flights and other misc costs.

When I return in 2 years gotta py another 8k I think it is for removing nail. Check their website for accurate numbers this is just from memory.

It’s not cheap but like I’d rather use the money to invest in myself. That’s money no one can take away from you and it’s going to dramatically improve your life.

[Growth.journey]

Update: 98 days post surgery - hit 8cm today

Hit my original goal of 8cm today. This brings me to 180cm height total. It feels really amazing and I'm so happy to hit this goal. I legitimately feel like my life has significantly changed for the better. Neurosis gone, i can happily walk around without lifts, i can happily go to peoples houses without shoes on, i feel more attractive and i just feel significantly happier and like im seeing the world through fresh lens.

Whilst Betz has completely cut off contact with me which is totally unacceptable, i am still very grateful to him. Why? Because this is a high risk high liability surgery for him to have pursued as a career. If he didn't provide this option to us then we wouldn't have the option of transforming our lives for the better without him - we'd be stuck in our old  ty bodies if he didnt take the risk. So for me its not really an issue that he's not talking to us, cos has given me the gift of a new life.

That being said, the journey to get here was incredibly difficult and you really need super human discipline and focus to get to this stage, i wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, but it is still completely worth it.

I have no wide legs, no duck ass and no other health conditions. I occasionally get a short tiny bit of numbness in an extremity body part (e.g toe) but it goes away and there is no nerve pain to speak of. Walking is the main area i would like to see improvement but everyday i am seeing progress. I walk around my house all day without crutches and while i am swaying side to side, it gets better everyday. Outside i can walk longer distances with crutches but still get tired earlier than normal people. I still need crutches outside but i will take turns walking without crutches then using my crutches, but i turn them around so they provide less support. I haven't been going to the physio for last month or so because i didnt find it useful but i might get them back to work on getting my gait right/normal again.

Weirdly no one has noticed my height increase, i guess because people are not aware of the surgery and therefore someone getting taller just doesn't make sense. Plus changes are incremental so hard to notice if you see them regularly. Plus i wore lifts before and i don't now and a few other reasons. but ive definitely noticed it.

Its crazy to think that i could legitimately stop today and i would be finished before the end of 2023. But i think i want to try for 1 more cm, but i will listen to my body very closely and stop at the earliest sign of pain or any bad news. But my view is that this is a one in lifetime opportunity that will stay with me rest of my life, so lets no give up too soon and try and maximise the benefit. My proportions look fine, i thought my long femurs would look weird by now but they look fine to me as my upper body is long.

Thoughts on going to 9cm vs stopping now?

[Vogel]

Super happy for you and congrats on this accomplishment.



I would say stop if you are just going for 1 more cm. I say that just for precautionary reasons. Again, good luck and I hope that all keeps on going well for you.

[arcademaster123]

Was the cost up front, did you have to pay all of it at once. Or could you split it into payment plan sort of

[Growth.journey]

Super happy for you and congrats on this accomplishment.



I would say stop if you are just going for 1 more cm. I say that just for precautionary reasons. Again, good luck and I hope that all keeps on going well for you.

Thankyou! I hope my diary has helped others as others have helped me. I am undecided yet but thanks for input.

[Growth.journey]

Was the cost up front, did you have to pay all of it at once. Or could you split it into payment plan sort of

All upfront for me, paid before I flew over

I talk about this on page 1

[Kanye Western]

Any pain at the moment GJ? When did the clicking pain subsides?

[Growth.journey]

No pain at the moment. I’ve gone off novalgin pain killers , only the opiate remains. But when I tried going off opiate clicking in morning was painful so I am waiti until consolidation to go off opiates. With opiates I feel no pain. Clicking is always gonna be uncomfortable but it hasn’t been painful since beginning. And also the last 4 days I’ve been taking a bath first and then doing clicking, and this makes clicking ridiculously easy , I do both sides in 5 minutes

I wish I did the bath thing a lot earlier as this makes clicking a breeze. Just soak your legs in hot water for 10 mins, then take your muscle relaxer and pain killer and it becomes 5x easier.

[lessthanavg8300]

I would say shut it down man.  You hit your goal.  Walk away from this with no complications and a happy ending.  Glad to hear you're doing well.

[Growth.journey]

Hi all

Thanks for your advice.

Today i decided i would no longer click any further. I.e yesterday was my last clicking day.

I have achieved my goal - ultimately finishing at 8.2cm lengthened.

I feel like i could have got to 9cm if i wanted to but i feel like it wouldn't make much different at this point and don't want to risk anything.

IT is a hard thing to walk away from free extra height though, but i am happy with my dimensions at 180.5cm height (i plan on telling people im 6 foot anyway - im not going to get to 183cm on this surgery anyway, plus i will be with shoes on) and my proportions of femur look good.

I am also finishing on the last day of 2022 so i can walk into 2023 with an immediate fresh start and celebrate my new height. What a happy new year.

Honestly it has been a life changing journey and one that i would 100% do again if i could go back in time.

Anyway, ill stay on the forum and give advice or answer questions as well as give updates for the final remaining stages of i) getting off my drugs completely ii) final xray iii) learning to walk properly iv) consolidation period (noting per betz schdeule i have only had 1 xray since coming back home, so there is a risk there if it hasnt bee consolidating well, though this is very unlikely since first x-ray was good)
WOOHOO we are done.

[thankscience]

Congrats to you man!

What supplements have you been taking to help, if any?

[Vogel]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Congrats

[boots2asses]

Congrats, now go enjoy your new life and forget about this experience.

[Hassan]

Congratulations I’m really happy for you🙌🏼 I’ve been trying to get in contact with the betz institute, left several emails but no reply. Can I ask how you get into contact with them please?

[lessthanavg8300]

Congrats man.  Lots to look forward to next year.  My goal is to have done the entire surgery including getting my nails out by the end of 2023.

[Growth.journey]

Congrats to you man!

What supplements have you been taking to help, if any?

Thankyou! I haven't been taking much, just an extra multvitamin everyday + protein powder. Betz gives you lots of the key supplements.

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 Congrats

Thankyou! 

Congrats, now go enjoy your new life and forget about this experience.

Thankyou! & absolutely, i can pretend to myself i didnt have to go through hell for 3-4 months and can just enjoy the outcome!

Congratulations I’m really happy for you🙌🏼 I’ve been trying to get in contact with the betz institute, left several emails but no reply. Can I ask how you get into contact with them please?

Thankyou!!  I think they are going through a big transition period given betz is retiring right now. Staff, hospital, processes and all in transition. I can maybe ask becker what is the best way for people to reach out, or i can give you danni's number who was betz assistant working for becker now. ill find out.

Congrats man.  Lots to look forward to next year.  My goal is to have done the entire surgery including getting my nails out by the end of 2023.

Thankyou!!!  2023 will be a great year. You can definitely do the whole surgery and recover back to normal within 5-6 months total i would say. However you cant get your nails out same year. I will not be doing this within 2 years of surgery - bone needs to be full strength otherwise you risk breaking it.

[Hassan]

Hi thank you so much I really appreciate it, yes please if you could give me the number and I will mention how you recommended it to me.

[Growth.journey]

X-rays few days post clicking