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> Here's how it works: The doctor breaks the patients' femurs, or thigh bones, and inserts metal nails into them that can be adjusted. The nails are extended a
by guiambros 4y ago
> Here's how it works: The doctor breaks the patients' femurs, or thigh bones, and inserts metal nails into them that can be adjusted. The nails are extended a tiny bit every day for three months with a magnetic remote control, GQ reported.
What could possibly go wrong? /s
Genuinely curious: has someone here gone through the procedure and care to share your experience? I'd imagine the 3 months must be hell, but won't it keep hurting even after when walking, running, or doing sports?
- mtmail 4y agoBusinessInsider is summarizing the https://www.gq.com/story/leg-lengthening https://www.gq.com/story/leg-lengthening article. I've read another first-person account of the procedure months ago, it's months of constant pain. As soon as you get used to the new millimeters there's the next procedure for the next millimeters. I wish I could find the older article, the guy said it was worth it but at the same time most of his close friends didn't even notice the height difference.
- cellis 4y agoNot a doctor, but also sounds like a great way to get osteoporosis.
- pgayed 4y agoDoctor here! Fracturing bone does not predispose it to osteoporosis. Bone is dynamic and living. It remodels (and fortifies) itself according to forces exerted on it!
- bombcar 4y agoThis implies we can mold legs to be different shapes (for what devious purpose I don’t know).
- pgayed 4y agoIt's true! We can. In fact, the “bumps” and grooves of bones (https://www.google.com/search?q=trochanter https://www.google.com/search?q=trochanter) are a result of the forces we (and gravity) exert on them.
- vorpalhex 4y agoI look forward to scampering around the house on four sharpened bone legs like some kind of horror movie esque spider beast when I'm an old man - it will be an excellent way to terrify the grandchildren.
- _carbyau_ 4y agoFor some reason my first facile thought was: to add cupholders
- solveit 4y agoNot just legs but skulls too! https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/peru-elongated-skulls-shaping-ancient-status-indiana-jones-south-america-matthew-velasco-cornell-university-a8210521.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/peru-elongated-sk...
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- philwebster 4y agoThis is a fairly common procedure for children with different length legs to fix a limping gait. My sister had it done back in 5th grade. She has additional health issues, but once the lengthening process was over, I don't recall her complaining about pain from it.
- gpt5 4y agoInterestingly, it’s a much less risky procedure on Children, because all the soft tissue around the bones will adjust much more easily than in adults (who routinely lose movement range with this procedure). However, it’s rarely done on non-adults except for medical reasons.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- badduckdude 4y ago
- paulcole 4y ago“YOUR LEGS WERE ON A BREAK!” Her potential surgeon explaining the procedure to her.
- RajT88 4y agoThat's tough. How did she cope? Mixed height platform shoes? Or did she buy a house on a mountain side?
- Maursault 4y agohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xwpp6Msd3w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xwpp6Msd3w
- Maursault 4y agoHer legs were fine. She was just tilting.
- sremani 4y agoIf you want to go into the rabbit hole, here you go. https://www.youtube.com/c/Cyborg4Life https://www.youtube.com/c/Cyborg4Life
- armatav 4y agoI haven't done this particular bone surgery, but I had my jaws broken and moved forward (sleep apnea) - not painful at all if you have a good surgeon. And in this case, they're moving it bit-by-bit over a long period of time. I imagine some physical therapy and you're all good - the nerves can stretch just fine. Plus, if you know the risks, and you want to be taller - go for it. One life, spend it how you wish.
- unwoundmouse 4y agothis take is actually kind of neat
- jjeaff 4y agoFrom what I have read, the little by little movement is what makes it excruciating. With jaw surgery, you break it and put it into its final place while under anesthesia. Then the healing starts immediately. With leg lengthening, you are slowly moving a break and this shifting/stretching the nerves. Not to mention there are lots of risks. I say you've only got one life to live, don't risk spending the rest of it limping around in pain for up to 3 inches of height.
- shishy 4y agoIsn't that like what they did in Gattaca?
- OnionBlender 4y agoYes. What's funny is that it looks like Jude Law and Ethan Hawke are already nearly the same height.
- foobarbecue 4y agoLove that movie and have always wondered how realistic that scene was. Pretty realistic, I guess!
- abledon 4y agoIn movie it was ankles. this is femurs/thigh bones
- MetallicCloud 4y agoI haven't seen that movie in years, but I'm quite sure it was his tibia & fibula, not ankles.
- abledon 4y agohttps://youtu.be/KXmU1Z8PNXk?t=45 https://youtu.be/KXmU1Z8PNXk?t=45 i see the braces on his ankles so i assume it was there
- HyperSane 4y agoIf the process is done too fast then the new bone is weak.
- thrown_22 4y agoTurns out Gataca was a documentary.