How to Grow Taller After 18: Comprehensive Guide

Many people want to look tall and have good proportions. While it's easy to stay fit, increasing height isn't as easy. You may encounter numerous individuals suggesting methods to increase height, but their advice may not always be applicable or successful for everyone. The main reason for this is the growth plates in our bodies. These plates, responsible for our height increase, continue to work actively until the end of puberty, typically between the ages of 18 and 21. That's why individuals often wonder, “Can I grow after 18?”

People who have completed their puberty period cannot grow taller naturally. It is only possible before the puberty period. This is why questions like "How to grow taller after puberty?" or "How to grow taller after 18?" have one primary answer: Limb lengthening surgery. In this article, we'll delve into the details of this process.

How to Grow Taller After Puberty?

One of the most common questions among young individuals is "When do boys stop growing?" or "Will girls still grow after puberty?" Scientifically, we can say that growth plates in our bones allow our bones to elongate and develop. These plates close by the end of puberty, and once this happens, your height does not increase naturally. Thus, we can clearly state that individuals who have completed their puberty period cannot grow taller naturally.

Is it Possible to Grow Taller After Puberty?

The X-ray images above show the progress of growth plates in a teenage boy’s hips. As observed, the bones no longer grow once the growth plates have fully hardened into solid bone. To determine whether your growth plates are open or closed, you can get an appointment with an endocrinologist and have an X-ray done.

Natural height increase is only possible for those who haven't completed puberty, as their growth plates are still active. If you are still in your developmental years or have a child who has not completed puberty, you can focus on an effective nutrition routine and exercise plan to support height growth. For methods to increase height before puberty, you can examine our article titled “3 Effective Methods to Increase Height Naturally at Home”.

Does Nutrition Increase Height?

First and foremost, it's important to note that factors influencing height growth include genetics, a healthy diet, exercise, and a low-stress lifestyle. However, these factors mainly affect height growth before puberty. Once the growth plates close, after puberty, it is no longer possible for an individual to grow taller naturally.

In short, while a healthy diet positively impacts height, this is only true before the growth plates close. After this period, changing your diet to increase height will not have any effect.

Do Height Growth Pills or Hormonal Injections Increase Height?

When it comes to height growth pills or hormonal injections, this is a complex process that requires caution. Firstly, it's important to understand that height growth pills available in the market are generally ineffective for adults with closed growth plates, and these drugs are also not suitable for children. Therefore, looking for ways to grow taller with these drugs may not yield the desired results.

As for growth hormone injections, they are only recommended for children with growth disorders by doctors. Hence, they are not a suitable treatment for adults, nor should they be used for children without a doctor's approval. Therefore, there are risks associated with using either of these two methods if you have complaints about short stature. Remember, any treatment method used without a doctor's approval can lead to serious side effects and be harmful to your body.

What if Your Growth Plates Have Closed?

It is not possible for a person to grow taller naturally after the growth plates close. The closure of these plates coincides with the end of adolescence and corresponds to the age range of approximately 18-21. However, to be certain whether your growth plates have closed, you should see a doctor and undergo an examination.

If your growth plates have closed and you wish to increase your height, the only permanent method at this point is limb lengthening surgery. Other methods will not help you grow taller.

Limb Lengthening Surgery: The Ultimate Solution

As mentioned earlier, if your growth plates have closed, the only way to grow taller permanently is through limb lengthening surgery. At Wanna Be Taller, we perform limb lengthening surgery to help individuals achieve their dream height. There are two primary methods and two types of limb lengthening surgery:

• LON method from the femur or tibia (Most preferred method)
• Precice 2 method from the femur or tibia (Most comfortable method)

General Information About Leg Lengthening Surgery

Cosmetic limb lengthening surgery is a procedure in which the major bones of the legs (either femur or tibia) are surgically cut, and metal fixators are attached to the legs. With these devices, daily bone growth is achieved, with an average daily lengthening of 1 mm. This allows for a maximum height increase of 7-8 cm (3 inches) on the femur or 6-7 cm (2 inches) on the tibia in a single surgery, within healthy limits. Our doctor ensure that the candidate's body, bone density, and psychology are suitable for the lengthening process.

1. LON Method - Limb Lengthening Surgery

Traditional methods using an external fixator, like the Ilizarov or Holyfix, necessitate a lengthy duration with the device attached until the bones fully consolidate. Patients must wear this apparatus until their bones are fully fortified. But newer techniques, such as Lengthening Over Nail (LON) or the combined method, have shortened the time an external fixator is required. For instance, with LON, patients only need to wear the external devices for about 2 to 3 months, whereas with methods like Ilizarov and Holyfix, it could take 9 to 12 months.

Compared to traditional lengthening treatments, a technique focused on offering better comfort and internal bracing for the regenerated bone should have a lower complication rate, as well as simplicity of application and cost-effectiveness. In addition to all of these, Holyfix and LON (The Combined Method) apparatus have such a superior design allowing the accelerated bone formation and transferring the burden from the bone without any shortening (Dynamization).

2. Precice 2 Method - Limb Lengthening Surgery

Precice 2 offers a less-invasive procedure in limb lengthening surgery. It has been used since 2011, and has been one of the most preferred methods by most patients so far in terms of comfort and biological safety. Lengthening is achieved using intramedullary techniques, which is with nails that are fully implanted in the patient. The two ends of the telescopic nails slowly pull apart, creating a gap in the bone.

In addition to this, there is no external metal device attached to the legs. These are the most notable advantages over traditional methods used external fixators which have been related to infuriating discomfort, prolonged treatment times, and the risk of pin-tract infections, which may lead to osteomyelitis.

PRECICE 2 nails are American-made intramedullary nails used for limb lengthening. An External Remote Controller (ERC) is utilized to lengthen the nails, which interacts with magnets within the nails.
In addition to this article, where you can find details about lengthening surgery, we also wanted to add our patient interviews. 

If you have any other questions in your mind or would like to hear directly from someone who has experienced this process, you can watch our interview below.

If you would like to get more information about the limb lengthening surgery, the methods or our doctor, please contact our patient consultant.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How to Get Taller After Puberty?
   Growing naturally after puberty is not possible due to closed growth plates. However, limb lengthening surgery offers a permanent solution for height increase.
2. Can You Grow Taller After 18?
   Natural height growth is no longer possible after 18 due to the closure of growth plates, but limb lengthening surgery can provide a solution for those seeking to increase their height.
3. How can I know am I still growing?
   The most definitive way to know if you're still growing is to visit an endocrinologist, who can perform an X-ray of your wrist or hand to examine the state of your growth plates. If they are still open, it indicates that growth is still possible. Other signs of growth can include frequent growing pains in your limbs and a consistent need for larger clothing or shoes.
4. Where are your growth plates?
   Growth plates, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of cartilage located near the ends of long bones. They are responsible for bone growth in children and adolescents, with the most significant growth plates located in the bones of the legs and arms.
5. At what age do boys stop growing?
   Boys typically stop growing by the age of 16-18, although this can vary. Some boys may continue to grow into their early twenties. The age at which boys stop growing is largely determined by genetics.