When Should You Do Limb Lengthening Surgery?

Limb lengthening surgery is a challenging type of operation compared to other surgeries and has a lengthy recovery process. Patients wanting to undergo this surgery choose it either due to medical reasons or for aesthetic purposes. When it comes to the timing of this surgery, there are a few primary aspects you should be aware of.               

In this article, we will discuss the situations in which this surgery is preferred, and we will also answer the question, "When should you do limb lengthening surgery?"."

Reasons for Having Limb Lengthening Surgery

Some patients prefer to undergo limb lengthening surgery due to medical reasons. Examples of these conditions include dwarfism, limb length discrepancy, or bone loss from injury or infection. Considering these conditions, it can be said that they cause significant problems in the patients' daily lives, leading to a point where they might need limb lengthening surgery. 

• Dwarfism: Dwarfism refers to individuals being short in stature, which can sometimes be congenital or result from a medical condition they have experienced.
• Limb Length Discrepancy: LLD can be because someone was born with it, got injured, had an infection, or has some other diseases. If one leg is much longer than the other, it can cause pain or problems with how they move, especially in the back, hips, or knees.
• Bone loss from injury or infection: In cases where a segment of bone is lost, limb lengthening techniques can help regenerate the lost bone and restore the limb's length.

Another type of patient are those who desire the surgery purely for aesthetic reasons. This can briefly be termed as cosmetic reasons. Individuals who are not satisfied with their current height and wish to be taller might opt for this surgery.

At what age is it possible to have limb lengthening surgery?  

Limb lengthening surgery is among the topics most wondered about by both young and adult individuals, and the age limit for the procedure is often a point of curiosity. The first thing we need to mention is that limb lengthening surgery is not suitable for those who haven't completed their puberty. It's essential to know this, as it's a frequent question from those who are still in puberty or from their parents. 

The main reason for this is that during puberty, an individual's growth plates are still open, and as a result, the body continues to grow and lengthen naturally. Surgery during this active growth period is not recommended, and individuals are usually advised to wait until they've fully completed puberty. In short, while it varies from person to person, the age range to consider for limb lengthening surgery is typically between 18-21 years old. There's also a general maximum age limit of around 45-50 years, but the final decision lies with the doctor. After your necessary tests and examinations are completed, your doctor will decide whether you are suitable for the surgery or not.

What Can Be Done to Increase The Height of Children Before Puberty?

 First and foremost, if your child doesn't have a developmental disorder, the most important thing to do before puberty is to ensure they have a healthy diet and establish a sports routine. Engaging in sports that can help increase height and support muscle development, especially when combined with a regular diet, has many health benefits. If you believe there's a significant delay in your child's growth, it would be beneficial to seek a doctor's advice. 

Another method that parents often inquire about when it comes to increasing height in children is growth hormone treatment. However, there are essential points to note about this as well.

What Is Human Growth Hormone?

Growth hormone treatment is prescribed by doctors for children with conditions like growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, chronic kidney disease, and growth retardation. While it's not suitable for children who've finished puberty, it's typically given to children older than 2. In this context, the growth plates play a pivotal role.

So, we can clearly say that human growth hormone is applied children who have some kinds of developmental problems. It would not be the right approach to use this treatment method just because your child is short. If your doctor thinks that your child is suitable for this treatment after all examinations and tests, he/she will make all your instructions and follow the process. Apart from this, this treatment, which is administered as an injection, may cause other health problems for your child. In order to learn more things about HGH, you can look into our “What Does Human Growth Hormone (HGH) Do?” article.

It is extremely important that you consult a doctor for such serious treatment methods and proceed by thoroughly learning the process.

What Are Height Growth Pills?

Height growth pills, which we encounter in many places on the market, are actually not as innocent as they seem. Although these pills do not contribute much to increasing height, they can cause many negative consequences for people's health when used uncontrolled. We recommend that you consult a doctor when using these pills, which are a height increase method that adults often wonder about. However, we should also point out that no method other than surgery provides permanent height increase after the growth plates close. Therefore, if your puberty is over and you want to increase your height, the best way is to start researching this surgery.

Another point we would like to point out about height increase pills is that they are definitely not suitable for use by children. If you are considering these pills because the growth plates have not yet closed, you should definitely give up this idea! These medications can have serious side effects on your children, so it is extremely important to be careful.

When Is The Best Time for Lengthening Surgery?

It is not possible to say that there is a specific age you should be for limb lengthening surgery. However, if you have completed puberty and do not have any chronic disease, you can see the doctor for the necessary tests and examinations.

After completing your necessary blood tests, and other examinations, the doctor decides whether you are suitable for surgery and then informs you about the maximum length you can grow according to your body proportion. As a result of these examinations, if your doctor approves the surgery and you feel ready, there is no obstacle in starting the process.

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