From 171.5 cm Before Surgery to 195 cm After
Medical Community Expresses Concern... "Most Experts Do Not Recommend It"
A man has drawn attention by revealing his experience of enduring severe pain to undergo bone lengthening surgery in order to increase his height.
According to the UK’s Daily Mail on July 10 (local time), Leon Otremba, a man in his twenties living in Germany, underwent two separate bone lengthening surgeries to increase his height by as much as 23 centimeters. Before the surgery, his height was 171.5 centimeters, but after the procedures, he stands at 195 centimeters.
In a media interview, Otremba said, "My life has completely changed," adding, "It was worth enduring all the pain." He explained that the surgeries cost tens of thousands of dollars, and that he suffered extreme pain and limited mobility during the recovery process, but he is satisfied with the results.
He has shared dozens of videos documenting his surgical journey online, and these videos have sparked a huge response, amassing tens of millions of views.
Otremba confessed, "Before the surgery, I felt as if even my masculinity was being questioned because of my short stature," and admitted, "My dissatisfaction with my appearance and self-esteem was extremely serious."
Leon Otremba underwent lengthening surgery to increase his height. [Image source=Social Networking Service (SNS) capture]
In 2023, he underwent his first surgery, which involved cutting and lengthening his femur (thigh bone). A metal rod was inserted inside the bone, and an external fixation device was attached to the outside. This method, called Lengthening Over Nail (LON), gradually extends the bone by several millimeters each day.
The external fixator is secured by metal pins that penetrate both the skin and bone, making it impossible to go about daily life without a wheelchair or crutches for at least four to five months. To prevent infection, daily disinfection and dressing were essential, and he also experienced pain and sleep disturbances.
Otremba revealed, "For several months, I could only sleep three to four hours a day," and added, "I prayed every day just to get a good night's sleep, even for one night."
Then, earlier this year, he underwent a second surgery to lengthen his tibia (shin bone). This time, a newer technique was used, in which a metal rod inserted inside the bone is mechanically rotated by moving the foot and leg, eliminating the need for an external fixator. Although the recovery period is shorter, rehabilitation still requires enduring severe pain.
Otremba explained, "When I rotate my foot outward and then inward, the metal rod turns and the bone lengthens," adding, "It's painful, but if I can have a height increase of more than 20 centimeters for the rest of my life, it's worth it."
However, the medical community is issuing warnings about such surgeries. An orthopedic specialist in the UK stated, "Complications can include infection at the surgical site, joint dislocation, blood clot formation, and even life-threatening conditions such as fat embolism, where fat enters the lungs through blood vessels," and added, "Most experts do not recommend this surgery."
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