Best Resources & Websites for Limb Lengthening Information

It can often be challenging for potential patients looking into limb lengthening surgery to find trustworthy or comprehensive information. In addition, some may find it confusing that some forums support the procedure, while others pretty much shun anyone considering height increasing surgery.

In this article, we’ll show you the best websites to find accurate and in-depth information from major players in the field, in addition to highlighting which communities or forums are ideal for anecdotal information and which are most supportive.

Please note, the first three options (1-3) are best for facts, while the remaining (3-6) are best to read about patient experiences.

1. Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute

Dr. Dror Paley, world-renowned orthopedic surgeon and contributor of cutting-edge devices like PRECICE and STRYDE, heads The Paley Orthopedic and Spine Institute. They’ve performed thousands of limb extension surgeries to increase people’s height since the Institute’s establishment in 2009.

Dr. Paley is one of the most expensive surgeons for stature lengthening, but his experience, expertise and reliability justify the costs. He is even an expert in correcting deformities like bow legs (O legs) and knock knees (X legs) justifies the cost.[1]

Their website has clear and concise FAQs about this surgery, detailed PDFs containing a range of information from the history of stature lengthening to what to do before the surgery, and precise information about prices, recovery time, methods, etc.[2]

Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, it’s surrounded by all manner of medical facilities thanks to being situated on the St Mary’s Medical Center campus. Potential patients can find particulars of the surgery team and patient stories and travel and accommodation guides here too. They even tell patients about some of the activities they can enjoy at West Palm Beach while recovering from the surgery!

2. Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS)

HSS, or the Hospital for Special surgery has been ranked #1 in orthopedics in the US for 12 years in a row, so they are undoubtedly reliable.[3] Dr. Rozbruch, who’s been the Chief of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service at HSS since 2005, is famous worldwide for his top notch orthopedic skills.

Besides cosmetic limb lengthening, HSS is a comprehensive surgical center where orthopedic doctors also perform surgical limb reconstruction for congenital deformities and trauma accidents. It’s known for minimal infection rates and convenience since it’s located in multiple locations, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island.

The HSS website has a comprehensive database of information about limb lengthening surgery, patient experiences, patient videos, things to know before the operation, and details about the doctors. They also have information about surgeries to fix limb deformities.

3. International Center for Limb Lengthening in Baltimore

The International Center for Limb Lengthening is one of the best places to get height surgery. Dr. Paley used to work here in the past, and they specialize in innovative treatments for rare conditions like Perthes disease, congenital femoral deficiency, and clubfoot.

Doctors with years of expertise and diverse experience come together at this place. Doctors like Dr. Michael J Assayag, who specializes in limb lengthening and deformity correction, take care of the lengthening, and those like Dr. Janet Conway, an expert in treating infection and nonunions, fix other issues with the bone.[4]

This facility offers services like anti-gravity treadmills and hydrotherapy pools to provide optimum after-operative care to patients. Their website lists details of the team and a photo gallery. Potential patients can also find information about their first visit and what happens before and after the surgery. It also has detailed descriptions of the treatments offered by this institution, helping potential patients become better informed about what will happen during the surgery.

4. LimbLengtheningForum.com

The Limb Lengthening Forum is one of the best resources for anecdotal information about cosmetic limb lengthening surgery. It’s a community of people who have had height surgery or are considering it – they narrate their research process, surgery experience (patient diaries), recovery, and results, all of which can be massively useful to someone considering this surgery.

However, anyone can make an account here and start posting. Therefore, all information should be taken with a grain of salt and verified from external sources. Since the average person can’t verify patient stories or diaries, it’s a good idea to look at an account’s reputation and previous posts and then decide whether to trust the information posted. There’s been rumors of certain doctors self promoting or talking down on other surgeons, although the rumors are just speculation since the users identity as anonymous. However, most information found there is genuine.

It’s worth noting that navigation can be clunky, and it can take a lot of time to find answers to a specific question by scrolling through an entire thread to find a relevant update or comment. Despite this, it’s a great resource to gather perspectives from people who have had the surgery from various doctors and to gain insider tips on some of the best places to have the procedure done. They even have a meet up section for those traveling for the procedure.

Debates about ideal height and femur to tibia and ratio can give some insight into the diversity of opinions about such things. Discussions about cost, coping with after-effects like anterior pelvic tilt (colloquially called “duck ass”), drop foot (“ballerina foot”), and the pros and cons of heel inserts can provide a variety of perspectives that can help patients cope.

Again, the forum isn’t a comprehensive resource for limb elongation, but it’s a great community to read about others experience surrounding leg lengthening, heightism (height discrimination) and height dysphoria.

5. Reddit

As another forum, reddit is a relatively good place to find patient stories and anecdotal information, but it’s much harder to find supportive limb lengthening patients here. The demographic leans younger and fairly liberal, so it’s much more common to find advice to get therapy rather than surgery experiences. While therapy should generally be the first option for height dissatisfaction, it’s not a sure shot way to cure height dysphoria.

Reddit forums are known as “subreddits”, and subreddits like r/limblengthening lack active users and discussions in r/short are generally dismissive in regards to limb lengthening. People here generally spend their time codependently perpetuating or “echo chambering” how being short is the worst thing in the world and how short people are doomed.

People on certain subreddits may disregard any opposing opinion as controversial and label it as extreme over compensation. Though it’s a good idea to look through some stories, potential patients should remain mindful when using certain websites.

6. Quora

The question-answer format of Quora brings together people who love to write extensively about their experiences. Therefore, it’s a great place to ask questions and receive answers from people ranging from orthopedic surgeons to height surgery recipients.

There’s also less anonymity on Quora than most forums or Reddit, which makes it slightly more reliable (though readers should still verify information externally). It’s also more rational, pragmatic, and open-minded than Reddit, as it’s primarily a space to share information.

The one downside is that it’s much harder to find community in Quora since it doesn’t function like a forum or a subreddit, but clicking “follow” on topics like limb lengthening surgery will make you familiar with some regulars in no time.

Conclusion

If you’re seriously considering this surgery, you should consider through some of these limb lengthening resources and forums so you can be more informed about different hospitals, locations, procedures, costs, recovery times, and after-care recommendations. Just be cognizant of some biases that come along with certain communities.

At the end of the day, always listen to your doctor who knows your unique situation and can recommend the best course of action for you. While limb lengthening surgery surely has risks, it is massively successful, and being informed can only improve the outcome. In the modern day, not only can you get longer legs, but you can easily find a community that can empathize with your struggles and relate to your journey.

References

[1] Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute. (n.d.). Paley Institute’s Dror Paley. Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute. https://paleyinstitute.org/blog/physicians/dror-paley/#/

[2] Paley, D. (2018). Cosmetic Stature Lengthening Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s). Paley Orthopedic & Spine Institute. https://paleyinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/Cosmetic-Stature-Lengthening-FAQs15.pdf

[3] HSS. (n.d.). About HSS. HSS. https://www.hss.edu/about.asp

[4] International Center for Limb Lengthening. (n.d.). Our Doctors and Staff. International Center for Limb Lengthening. https://www.limblength.org/our-team/our-doctors-and-staff/