What is Cosmetic Height Increase Surgery?

We can describe it as “the art of esthetic height increase” without any loss of function. Techniques of increase surgery have been used for Orthopedic problems for years. Modern medicine renders the art of esthetic height increase possible with "Magnetic Rod Technology (Precice)", an advanced technology it has developed.

Specialist Clinical Psychologist Ayşegül Kalem, who stands at the most important phase of the process of deciding on height increase surgery and who has international experience, explains height increase surgery as follows:

Cosmetic Height Increase

"In today's world where almost everything can be changed and renewed with a machine and an operation, height increase surgeries are about to take their place among cosmetic surgeries such as rhinoplastie, mammoplastie, to which we have now become very accustomed. The medical world improves every day and now makes it possible to implement height increase operations in line with cosmetic requests, while in the past they were made only for medical obligations.

Our physical perception plays a significant role in describing our sense of personality. These types of operations change the physical integrity, thus the individual’s self-perception. Physical perception is being aware of and accepting our physical characteristics, protecting our body by taking care of it, rather than how we look from outside or our reflection in the mirror. Considering that esthetic operations are not imperative health interventions, we can describe it as one of the ways of taking care of the body. While physical renovation can be at the level of putting on make-up and shaving, it can also be at the level of operation as long as the conditions are suitable. It is very important for persons who want such a change to receive psychological assistance during and after the phase of deciding."

"Is cosmetic height increase surgery appropriate for me?" The answer to this most frequently asked question requires exploring some important issues with the help of an expert, as well as the technical feasibility of the operation.

• Why do I want this surgery?
• How long have I been dreaming of it?
• What do I think will change in my life with cosmetic operation?
• What will happen if I don’t have this operation?
• What is awaiting me after the operation?
• How good am I in coping with stress?
• How good can I use my sources of coping?
• How will the recovery process after operation affect my life?
• How will be the process of getting used to my new height and to this change?

History of Limb Lengthening Surgery

Limb lengthening surgery was implemented by Russian doctor Gavril Ilizarov for the first time in 1960’s. In these operations, devices named “Ilizarov external fixator” were applied externally to the extended bone. Today, these devices are used with the help of a computer program. The oldest computed assisted external fixator and which is the only one approved by FDA in the USA is “Taylor Spatial Frame”. We use these external fixators in correcting complex deformities.
The classical Ilizarov methods, which were fixed externally to the extended bone, were not convenient for cosmetically aimed height increase due to the risks of infection, restriction of joint movements, a very limited amount of increase and probability of a serious disability.

Limb Lengthening Surgeries Today

Today limb lengthening surgeries can be performed with devices that are placed inside the bone through very small surgery wounds. Unlike the Ilizarov method, the comfort and movement ability of patients are a lot more during treatment with these devices (they can bath) and the probability of complications such as infection, joint hardness, vessel nerve damages, pain, dissatisfaction and psychological problems decreases to a great extent.

Albizzia device (developed by Dr.Guichet), ISKD device (Dr.Cole), motorized nail - Fitbone (Dr.Baumgart) stand out within the historical development. Albizza and ISKD nails were mechanical extension devices; put it differently, the patient’s daily movements and the geared mechanism within the nail ensured the extension. However, this situation was causing uncontrolled extension (very fast or slow) and this in turn was leading to pain, problems in bone recovery, nerve injuries, etc. In the motorized nail - Fitbone, the speed and rhythm of extension could be controlled externally with the motor installed on the device.

The “Magnetic Rod Technology”, which can be controlled externally and which the “Ellipse Technologies” firm worked on, was started to be used in spine surgery by Prof. Dr. Azmi Hamzaoğlu (Group Orthopedist team) in 2010 for the first time in the world.

During spine practices, an idea came out that this technology could be used in the surgery of extending long bones. With the support of a small group composed of international consultant Orthopedists, in which I was included as well, the first Precice lengthening nail was produced. In June 2011, we applied it to one of our patients in Turkey for the first time in the world. Precice lengthening nail was approved and started to be used 3 months later, in August 2011 by FDA in the USA.

As of today (September 2013), we have treated 60 patients with “ISKD”, “Fitbone” and “Precice magnetic rod technology”. All of these patients are those who had shortness as well as complex skewed legs or those to whom we applied limb lengthening for cosmetical reasons. No serious complication or a permanent problem occurred in any of our patients up until today. Every year, we organize courses with international participation with the aim of teaching the correct usage of these devices which are the inevitable technologies of the near future and we give scientific support to doctors.

When compared to the first generation lengthening nails such as “ISKD” and “Fitbone”, the “Precice Magnetic Rod Technology” ensures extension or re-shortening if necessary. The old generation lengthening devices were working in single direction and if bone recovery was progressing slowly during distraction, there was no remedy other than stopping the extension and waiting in order to accelerate the recovery. However, bone distraction is completely under our control with Precice. Furthermore, as Precice can be produced in different lengths, it is possible to apply this technology to patients for whom the old generation lengthening nails were not suitable, and especially to pediatric patients.

How Cosmetic Height Increase Surgeries are performed?
5 stages:

1. Medical Assessments and Consultations
2. Hospitalization and Operation
3. Lengthening period and Rehabilitation
4. Consolidation (the period during which it is waited for the new bone, which is formed in the distraction area after the lengthening process is complete, to get strong)
5. Removing the Magnetic Rods

Observations of Physiotherapists Mari Apelyan and Arman Apelyan, who professionally deal with post operation rehabilitation of patients, especially of those to whom lengthening and deformity surgery have been applied: