How to Grow Taller After 18?

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, however their advice may not always be applicable or successful for everyone. The main reason of this situation is about the growth plates. The growth plates in our body, which are responsible for our height increase, continue to work actively until the end of puberty, which usually falls between the ages of 18 and 21. That's why individuals who want to grow taller often wonder, "Can I grow after 18?" 

People who completed their puberty period cannot grow taller. It's only possible before the puberty period. That's why the questions of "how to grow taller after puberty?" or “how to grow taller after 18?” has only one answer. It's possible with limb lengthening surgery. In this article, we'll present the details of this process.

How to Grow Taller After Puberty?

Among the most curious questions of young individuals are "when do boys stop growing?" and "will girls still grow after puberty?". To answer these questions scientifically, we can summarize as follows; in our bodies, there are growth plates that allow our bones to elongate and develop. These plates close by the end of our puberty, and from this process onward, our height doesn't increase naturally. So, we can clearly say that people who completed their puberty period cannot grow taller naturally.

The X-ray images above show the progress of growth plates in a teenage boy’s hips. As it can be observed from the images, the bones are no longer growing due to the fact that growth plates have been fully hardened into solid bone. You can get an appointment from an endocrinologist and get an X-ray done in order to ensure whether yours are open or closed.

Naturally increasing height is only possible for individuals who have not yet completed puberty, as their growth plates are still actively working. 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 "3 Effective Methods to Increase Height Naturally at Home" in more detail.

Does Nutrition Increase Height?

First of all, we should point out that the important criteria for height growth include genetic factors, a healthy eating routine, exercise and a low-stress lifestyle. However, when we look at these factors in general, they mainly affect height growth in the pre-adolescent period. At the end of puberty period, growth plates close and it is not possible for people to grow taller naturally after this period.

In short, although a healthy diet positively affects people in terms of height, this is only valid for the period before the growth plates close. After this period, changing your diet to increase your height will not be of any use.

Do Height Growth Pills or Hormonal Injections Increase Height?

When it comes to height growth pills or hormonal injections, we can say that this is a more complex process that requires caution. Firstly, it is not possible to claim that height growth pills on the market are effective; because it is not possible for adults with closed growth plates to grow by any method other than surgery, and these drugs are not suitable for children either. Therefore, looking for answers to your question of how to grow taller with these drugs would not be correct. 

As for growth hormone injections, this method is only recommended by doctors for children with growth disorders. Thus, it is not a suitable treatment for adults, and it is also not possible to use 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 have 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, the best way to make sure whether your growth plates are closed or not is to see your doctor and get examined.

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

Limb Lengthening Surgery

Like we said before, if your growth plates are closed, the only way to growing taller permanently is through limb lengthening surgery. As the Wanna Be Taller team, we are performing leg lengthening surgery for individuals to reach their dream height. There are 2 methods (LON and Precice 2) and 2 types (Femur and Tibia) of leg lengthening surgeries;

• 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 is a procedure in which the major bones of the legs (either femur or tibia) are surgically cut, then metal fixators are attached to the legs, and with the help of these devices, growth of the bones is achieved on a daily basis. Average daily amount of distraction of the bones is 1 mm. In this way, maximum 7-8 cm (3 inches) height gain can be achieved on the femur, or max. 6-7 cm (2 inches) on the tibia. These are the highest amount of height increase that can be achieved in a single procedure within healthy limits. In addition, our doctor also make sure that whether the patient candidate's body, bone density, psychology is suitable for the lengthening process.

1.Limb Lengthening Surgery with LON Method

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. Limb Lengthening Surgery with Precice 2 Method

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 after puberty naturally is a challenging task. Healthy lifestyle changes may promote growth hormone production, however, if your growth plates are closed, the height increase is not possible. Thanks to limb lengthening surgery, you can permanently be taller.
2. 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.
3. Where are your growth plates?                                      
   Growth plates, also known as epiphyseal plates, are areas of cartilage located near the ends of long bones. In children and adolescents, these plates are still developing and are responsible for bone growth. The most significant growth plates are located in the bones of the legs and arms.
4. How old 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.