Body Proportions after Limb Lengthening Surgery

One of the most feared things before having limb lengthening surgery by the patients is if their body proportions will be disrupted or not. Firstly, we would like to talk about what body proportion is and the importance of the golden ratio. In this article, you can reach all the information about body proportions after limb lengthening surgery.

What is the Golden Ratio?

The Golden Ratio is a natural mathematical proportion calculation. It is the ratio used in products created by artists, especially in drawings of the human body, sculptures, and architecture to make them visually pleasing. Simply put, the ratio between the larger number and the smaller number is equal to the ratio of the sum of these two numbers to the larger number. This calculation is also used in cosmetic surgeries to ensure that the aesthetics of the procedure is suitable for the patient's body or facial proportions. In limb lengthening surgery; for instance, the Golden Ratio is also taken into account to ensure that the patient's body proportions are optimal. Our doctor, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yunus Öç, places great importance on the Golden Ratio to ensure that patients have the most suitable body proportions possible after the surgery.

Many people believe that a man's waist-to-shoulder ratio of 1:1.6 is the most visually perfect proportion for the body. However, an interesting fact is that in reality, the most perfect proportion of a body for a given society is perceived as close to the average proportion of that society. This shows that the Golden Ratio is actually changeable. For those considering height increase surgery, the most important thing to know is the Golden Ratio of the legs and arms. This ratio can be defined as the ratio of the arms to the entire body, the ratio of the legs to the entire body, and the ratio of the lower body to the upper body. By using these ratios, it can be determined whether your current body is proportionate or not, and the maximum amount of leg lengthening that can be performed is able to be determined by that. In addition, our doctor states that 0.8 to 0.9 arm-to-leg ratio usually gives the most aesthetically pleasing look for the limb lengthening surgery. The more or less than this ratio can cause a minor disproportion. For this reason, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yunus Öç measures both the femur and the tibia separately and performs the surgery through his special calculation.

Does Limb-Lengthening Surgery Cause Body Disproportion?

Patient candidates are often concerned about whether their arms or torso will be shorter and thicker compared to their legs if they have two surgeries. With two limb lengthening surgeries, a healthy and maximum of 14-15 cm increase in height can be achieved. With a single bone lengthening surgery, an increase of 6-8 cm from the upper leg (femur) and 5-7 cm from the lower leg (tibia) can be achieved. Of course, this amount of height increase creates a difference in proportion in the body compared to before, but as we mentioned before, there is no noticeable disproportion. There are two reasons for this:

1. The arms are attached to the upper body, so when looking at proportions after leg lengthening, the length of the arms does not have a significant disproportion. Like we have said, the proportion of arm span to body size can be calculated to determine body proportions. Scientifically, there is a 1 in 10 difference between the legs and the upper body and arms, which means that a 10 cm increase in leg length only translates to a 1 cm increase in the upper body. A small difference in leg length can lead to a more aesthetic appearance rather than disproportion. In fact, it is generally believed that legs that are 5% longer than the upper body are more aesthetically pleasing for both men and women. Thus, limb lengthening surgery can correct body proportions rather than distort them.
2. Not everyone's body structure is suitable for a 15-16 cm increase in height. Before height lengthening surgery, the patient undergoes various tests and observations to determine if they are suitable for the procedure. If the doctor determines that the patient is suitable for height lengthening surgery, they will decide on an amount of increase that will not distort the patient's body proportions, in consultation with the patient. Our doctor strives to ensure that the patient's body proportions are in line with the Golden Ratio, and since the upper body and arm span vary from person to person, the ideal length for the lower body will be different for each individual. The correct amount of increase for each patient will be determined based on the medical tests and the doctor's opinions.

As it can be observed from the bodies of these two patients, one who increased their height by a total of 11.5 cm and the other by 13 cm after undergoing two surgeries, there is no disproportion in their bodies. This is because their unique height increase amounts were determined and they followed the doctor's recommendations during the lengthening process.

It is worth mentioning that body measurements, or proportions, may vary among people of different ethnicities, races, or geographical locations. Therefore, the Golden Ratio, or ideal appearance, may differ for individuals from different regions. For example, African patients generally have shorter upper bodies in proportion to their arms and legs compared to Middle Eastern patients. Our Asian patients often have widespread thinness, which requires different measures when performing leg lengthening. Our European patients generally have a lower likelihood of disproportion in their bodies due to their proportions often being closer to the Golden Ratio. However, these are all observations and have not been scientifically proven. Therefore, the examination, tests, and the doctor who performs the surgery are crucial in determining the correct amount of height increase for each patient.

Is Arm Lengthening Possible?

Most of our patients who fear that their arms would seem shorter realize after the surgery that it isn’t a necessary fear. However, if the patient wants and the doctor approves, arm-lengthening surgery can be done so that the patient’s concern about disproportion would be solved. If the patient will have the arm lengthening surgery, it is suggested that it is performed 1 to 1.5 years later after the patient’s leg lengthening surgery.

If you would like to get more information about limb lengthening surgery and arm lengthening surgery, you can contact our patient consultant.