Apart from genetics and living a healthy lifestyle, there's really not much you can do to grow drastically taller in a short amount of time. If you're that desperate though, there's a relatively cheap leg-lengthening procedure in India that adds a few inches to your height. However, interested takers should be warned as health experts say the surgery pose more risks than benefits.
No Pain, No Gain
According to Medical Daily, the procedure involves orthopedic surgeons breaking part of the patient's leg, usually the tibia, in order to insert metal implants around the lower leg. The metal wires and rings would stretch the leg bones and encourage growth. Patients will have to sit in a brace for a few months before they can walk again.
"It was totally worth it," an undergraduate patient from Lucknow happily expressed to Hindustan Times. "When I stood up after four months, I was in heaven. I'm 5 feet and 7-1/2 inches now. My younger brother was taller, now he's not. I can't wait for his reaction."
Despite the generally positive testimonies, health experts insist that the procedure should only be performed as a last resort to treat limb injuries or leg defects. Prospective patients should be mindful of the negative side effects which includes chronic back pains and permanent paralysis.
Cosmetic Reasons
Dr. Aman Sarin, an orthopedic surgeon in Delhi, is concerned that many patients are undergoing the operation purely for cosmetic reasons. "We often turn people away," he shared to The Guardian.
"We try counseling first, but we've had patients who even threaten to commit suicide if I refuse to do the surgery," Twice I've had to call the police in emergency situations like that."
While the leg-lengthening procedure might seem gruesome and bizarre to some, for others, the procedure helps increase their confidence, in addition to their height. "I have so much confidence now," said a 24-year-old Indian woman. "I was just 4-foot-6. People used to make fun of me and I couldn't get a job. Now my younger sister is doing it, too."
Sarin added that majority of his patients initially came from the US, Europe and China. In just 3 years, local clientele has surged exponentially. Indians now account for two-thirds of the surgeries.
