08
May
2023
|
10:09 AM
America/New_York

Limb lengthening surgery grows in popularity for cosmetic reasons

Scripps News reports on the growing popularity in cosmetic limb lengthening surgeries to become taller in an interview with experts including Taylor J. Reif, MD, orthopedic surgeon and member of the Limb Lengthening and Complex Reconstruction Service at HSS.

"I've been getting more inquiries than in the past, and I think that's because there are more people who have gotten the procedure done at this point and those people, a lot of them have told their stories on social media," said Dr. Reif.

While the risks and technology have improved, doctors say there are some things to consider.

"There's really not a ton of risk in the surgery. Everything is done through small incisions. The amount of bleeding is very manageable. I think people are really worried about pain, but I think most people are surprised that surgery is less painful than they think it's going to be," Dr. Reif said.

Results also depend on a patient's base height.

"The shorter you are, the harder it is to lengthen you the full three inches that we generally use as a baseline," Dr. Reif said.

Read the full article at scripps.new.com.