On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video showed a man’s journey of breaking his own legs to gain height
A man’s painful pursuit of height
A 23-year-old man has undergone excruciating procedures to increase his height.
Leon, previously 5 feet 6 inches tall, dreams of reaching 6 feet 4 inches. He has already gained five inches through surgery but is determined to grow even taller.
Leon has undergone the grueling leg-lengthening procedure to achieve the height of his dreams.
Well, Leg-lengthening surgery is a complex and painful process. So, the procedure involves breaking the thigh bones and inserting metal pins and braces.
A small screw extends from the leg, allowing controlled daily adjustments.
Over several weeks, the patient turns the screw, gradually stretching the bone as it heals. The process is similar to tightening braces but applied to the legs. Once the desired length is achieved, the bone is left to heal, followed by extensive rehabilitation.
Leon’s journey to a new height
On social media, a user, who goes by @le_tremba shared a video on this platfrom showing ourney to a new height.
Leon shared his experience, which gained attention among viewers.
In 2023, he underwent his first leg-lengthening surgery, increasing his height from 171.5 cm to 182 cm. He used the LON method, which requires an external fixator.
In a recent video, Leon struggled to walk, documenting his progress.
He captioned the clip: “50 days after leg lengthening, my walking during the process of getting taller.” His current height is 184 cm, but his goal remains between 192 and 195 cm.
He said: “My journey began in 2023 when I underwent my first leg lengthening surgery on my femur, increasing my height from 171.5cm to 182cm using the LON method with an external fixator.”
Social media reaction
Leon’s video quickly went viral and sparked debate among viewers.
@le_tremba I want to look down on everyone #heightsurgery #limblengthening #fy#foryou#viral
In the comment section, many viewers expressed their shock at Leon’s journey to achieve a new height. Meanwhile, others were concerned about his health after he broke his own leg to add 9 inches to his height.
One person said: This class is what we call “unnecessary medical procedures”
A second wrote: Good for him. But his kids are gonna be mad and wondering why they aren’t as tall as their dad.
While a third commented: Wouldn’t his arms be disproportionally short?’
Someone else mocked: I hope his legs heal terribly and make him a paraplegic.
Another added: What always confuses me in this decision I’ve seen several people make is that sure…now their legs are longer but their arms are not proportional with the now longer legs.
If he is going to add 10 inches to his height by only lengthening his legs, doesn’t that mean he’ll have the torso of a 5’6 man and the legs of a 7’2 man? That probably won’t look the best. Another user added.
The risks and limits of leg-lengthening surgery
In another post, he had a conversation with a ‘height surgeon’ about how many centimeters can be added to a person’s height
Leon consulted a height surgeon to discuss the maximum achievable height. The doctor explained that the Betzbone system allows up to 12.3 cm of extension in the femur and 10 cm in the tibia.
However, excessive lengthening can lead to complications. The doctor advised caution when extending beyond 10 cm in the femur or 8 cm in the tibia.
The doctor said to Leon: “Well, the maximum capacity of the Betzbone [leg-lengthening system] on the femur side is 12.3 centimeters, and on the tibia side is 10 centimeters,”
Additionalty, Patients are encouraged to monitor their proportions and stop when they feel satisfied with their height.