Mitkovic veteran patient - AMA (Ask Me Anything)

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Quote from: westercoasten on January 10, 2016, 01:20:56 AMWhat did he charge?
What is the method?
What was the intial, 0,5cm?


Was something like 7 thousand euro at the time.
Method? I did external tibias.
Initial stretch I guess? Don't know but not much since I felt pain when putting the feet on the floor. I guess the bone was touching. I was stretching few mm 6X a day, stopping like 3 or 4 times due to pain. Taking a day without stretching helps to ease the pain.

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Hey Vetpat,

I have some more obscure general questions:

How did you find about LL? Was it through a community? (I.E: The old forum) How did you find this one and what made you want to share your story?

I'm just curious is all, I don't mean to impose.

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Quote from: LLuser1 on January 10, 2016, 02:19:41 AMWhat do you think of people talking crap about Mitkovic because of misalignments and poor aftercare?

Tough question.

My procedure went fine. Same for many patients I've met. The ones who had more serious problems were:
- One was at home using crutches and had an accident. He fell putting too much pressure in one leg during the fall. It set him back for a few more weeks (or maybe a month) and doctor kept visiting him often, helping to re-align.
- Two patients traveled there to fix problems they've had with an Indian doctor. They were quite bad to start with and decided to fix tibias and do femurs!

Probably there was more complications I'm not aware. Don't take my word for it. If you plan to do the procedure, read all stories, diaries and meet patients in person before going to the operation room.

I'm guessing some misalignment might be due to your legs being a little misaligned to start with. If you look yourself in the mirror, you'll see your tibias aren't perfectly aligned. Stretching might increase that imperfection.

As for the aftercare, don't know what to say. Some patients expect doctor to visit them EVERYDAY for the whole procedure (many months). Doctor is there to do the surgery and give you instructions on how to proceed after. You might call him if you have something serious. Since I had contact with many other patients, they could answer me better. Most were about pains, how to take shower, where to buy a wheelchair, positions to sleep... things like that.

People have different opinions. Like all reviews, pay attention and make your mind. See what makes sense. I could be some Indian hired to post fake reviews praising doctor. Best advice I can give is for you to meet as many patients as possible and see with your own eyes.

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Quote from: Alu on January 11, 2016, 02:12:53 AMHey Vetpat,

I have some more obscure general questions:

How did you find about LL? Was it through a community? (I.E: The old forum) How did you find this one and what made you want to share your story?

I'm just curious is all, I don't mean to impose.

Can't remember exactly to be honest. Maybe a website called shortpeoplesupport. The old forum was useful so I could read the experience directly from patients.
First I knew about procedure. I searched for forums to find more information. Email doctor. Then I traveled to meet him and see patients for myself. If I didn't felt the procedure was safe, I would back off.

A friend of mine told me he still frequents the forum and asked me if I did the same. I told him It was years without visiting. I saw a new one emerged and decided to contribute. This procedure can improve your life and if you have the money, time and will to do it, go for it.

I'll continue to answer questions for all January. Then I'll continue with my life. You forget about LL when the procedure ends and you start enjoying your new height.

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Quote from: vetpat on January 11, 2016, 03:16:41 AMI'll continue to answer questions for all January. Then I'll continue with my life. You forget about LL when the procedure ends and you start enjoying your new height.

That's maybe the best thing I've heard in this forum in a long time lol. (especially great since I'm also aiming for around 5'7). I'm glad you're at least enjoying life now that's really reassuring.

Has anyone ever told you look leggy or anything like that or any other comments? (I have better questions but it's somewhat late and I'm tired so I'll ask them another day 

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Quote from: Alu on January 11, 2016, 03:21:21 AMHas anyone ever told you look leggy or anything like that or any other comments? (I have better questions but it's somewhat late and I'm tired so I'll ask them another day 

Not really. I got a lot of attention when I was walking in shorts using the device (without crutches). I don't recommend that.
Apart from that, only people curious about the scars. Maybe 5 occasions total.
1 was my girlfriend. Always the same answer "It's a long and sad story".
2 friends of mine (not at the same time); when sitting with my leg crossed with my tibia facing them. - What's that scar? Same reply "It's a long and sad story". That's it. Period.
1 waiter in a club's pool. He asked me if I practiced martial arts.

As for being leggy or something similar, nope. Never. In the old forum, there was an interesting reply to that question.

It is better to look a "little strange" to few people than "very short" to everyone.

I'm not concerned about my proportions because I've seen people my (new) height with the same tibia size. After surgery I used to pay attention when sitting next to people. Later you forget about that.

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Since you lengthened 5.5 cm, at what point did you feel that the pain started to become really unbearable and did you, for example, at 4 or 4.5 thought that is good enough ? Or alternatively, did you think you could go to 6 or beyond ?

Another thing: In order to minimize loss of muscle when they are inactice, doctors usually suggest the use of quality food supplements, for example protein bars, BCAA amino acids, glutamine, creatine. Have you used any of these ?

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Back on the leggy comment, do you personally feel like you could lengthen more if you wanted too and if so how much?

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Quote from: aspirant185 on January 12, 2016, 11:52:32 PMSince you lengthened 5.5 cm, at what point did you feel that the pain started to become really unbearable and did you, for example, at 4 or 4.5 thought that is good enough ? Or alternatively, did you think you could go to 6 or beyond ?

Another thing: In order to minimize loss of muscle when they are inactice, doctors usually suggest the use of quality food supplements, for example protein bars, BCAA amino acids, glutamine, creatine. Have you used any of these ?


I wouldn't say unbearable but I had problem sleeping during the first month. I'm not used to sleep on my back. Many times during the first month I woke up at night with some pain. I had to sit, wait something like 20min before going back to sleep. Many patients take medication but I advise you against.
After certain mark (can't remember) you feel pain since your muscles are constantly stretched. When you do stretching (ie. in the GYM), you stretch for a minute and stop. The muscle returns to normal to recover. In LL the muscle does not rest. I had to stop twice or thrice due to pain. You stop for a day and return stretching normally the next.

So... You stretch for 45 days (more or less). if you feel pain, stop for a day before continuing. You might get ballerina foot since your muscles are constantly stretched. When you stop lengthening, the pain goes away and everything gets easier since any pain goes away.
For exercise, I recommend you to simply stand up few times a day. I used to pee and wash the dishes while standing. Get a walker and use it at home.

As for target mark, hard to say. Your legs are going to lose a lot of muscle for not exercising so it doesn't matter how good your diet is. Luckily Serbia has a very good diet. Plenty of meat (protein), yogurt (protein and calcium), etc... As for vitamins, I bought only calcium tablets.

Even if you stretch 1cm, you'll think that's enough (proportions wise) because your legs are going to look skinny. I didn't want to push too much and you can always do a second op if you're not happy. Better to do 5+5 than 7+3 or 7+5 proportion/mobility-wise.

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Quote from: Alu on January 13, 2016, 12:02:27 AMBack on the leggy comment, do you personally feel like you could lengthen more if you wanted too and if so how much?

As I explained in my previous post.

Most patients stretch to the 7cm mark. But they were already 5'7 to 5'9. I don't regret doing "only" 5.5cm. If I feel like a need more, I'll do a second operation.

Not related, here's a pic from my tibia.