LIMB LENGTHENING FOR FUN??? Really??!!

Dr. Eric Sadeh was interviewed tonight by TV Talk Show Host, Dorothy Cascerceri on Celebrity Corner.  Dorothy asked about the Limb and Leg Lengthening.  Here's what Dr. Sadeh thinks about it.....

Originally developed by Dr. Ilizarov in the 1960’s, limb lengthening was intended for people with dwarfism and children with one leg significantly shorter than the other.  Limb lengthening is now finding its way into the world of cosmetic surgery -hmm...is there too much pressure to look like a model (Gisele pictured below)?  On average, patients can gain an extra 2 to 3 inches...IS THIS REALLY WORTH IT???

Limb lengthening involves breaking the bones of your leg and slowly “distracting” them apart allowing new bone to form and nerves, arteries and veins to stretch.  Not only is the procedure extremely painful and takes months, but there are a number of serious consequences that have to be avoided.  The procedures should be performed in the most sterile of environments, ideally a laminar flow operating room in a hospital to prevent infections and ultimate failure of the procedure.  The metal distraction devices can break or malfunction, necessitating further surgery to remove and replace them.  The incision sites and soft tissue injuries from the distraction device may leave significant scarring.  Nerve damage can be permanent and lead to functional issues with the legs and chronic pain. 

ALL THIS FUN for a few inches...sounds like a bad movie!!!   What happened to platform shoes for men?