Any commercial airline pilots here who did Limb Lengthening?

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I wonder if there are any commercial pilots in here who did have this surgery? Since you have to be away from work basically minimum 6 to 12 months and in the aviation industry you are going through a health scan every 6 months and for example if a pilot breaks a leg, they do not accept if you have any nail or any other tool in your bones, but they scan you again after removal of any kind of fixators or nails and if you're alright then they give you OK ( usually 3 months after removal)

I know its a really less possibility that there are some pilots around here but... as a person who is to pursue a career in aviation as a pilot in the near future, i was wondering what are my chances if i do this surgery during my time as a pilot? Will i lose my job?

Being tall and being pilot are the two things i want so much in this life since childhood.(i always picture myself as a tall man and as a pilot)  And i dont want to stuck in between one of them.

I need help!

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Quote from: cyborg4life on February 18, 2020, 11:06:06 PMI'm not pilot but I understand your situation and future desire. That's tough because yeah the rod would have to be left in for about a year I don't think any surgeon recommend taking it out any sooner (never say never) so the only options in my mind would be to get it done prior to your aviation career, find out if there are any ways to mitigate the mandatory scan or heal the bone faster than usual and hope they remove in time before scan

thank you sir, much appreciate your response. by the way someone else asked the same question 2 years ago, when i did the google search yesterday that thread didnt show up, now shows up magically, lol. http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=4998.0

and i found this as well : https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/pilot-health/113145-major-leg-surgery.html,

so, any other opinions will also be much appreciated.


reason i want to do this during my career is because as a pilot it will be much much much more easy for me to afford a good doctor ( like dr.lee or paley ) or even a good method like stryde. but i read somewhere its not about how good the nail is, its about the doctor that inserts you the tool. so... i dont want to risk it since i'm really into fitness ( and leg days haha )

btw i watched all of your videos on youtube, you're such an inspiration, thanks for that as well.

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Quote from: cyborg4life on February 19, 2020, 01:43:09 PMHey Fox,

I checked out those links and it seems he was in the same boat as you are now. But the airline pilot forum seems to be more informative in that if you ask a question about getting the procedure done and explain you can make a full recovery (because you can) then I also think there should be no problem.

It would be important to really get in contact with them to be sure though because stipulations could have changed in past few years as they're always trying to improve security and safety.

In my opinion the medical examiner would test your capability which you would pass with flying colors as your motivation would be vastly improved from greater confidence after rising to new heights (double pun there;)

I also agree that the doctor's skill is more important than the tool being used. I am a competitive natural bodybuilder myself and realize I don't need the best equipment to get a good workout but how to use what I have that will dictate my result. So it's completely understandable to wait until your stabilized in your career to get the top docs to perform the procedure.

Great to hear you're into fitness also and although I didn't have my femurs done (just tibia) I know that a full out recovery after proper rehab is possible. I'm gonna try to revamp my personal program I made for myself to bounce back for you guys who want an optimal recovery.

Thanks so much for checking out my videos I plan to post more based on questions I've gotten from you guys.

Best of luck!

thanks man for being helpful. actually you are my only hope when it comes to fitness since you're the only one who does weightlifting regularly. i have 10 years of past in weightlifting but im not as competitive as you are. fitness was my savior of my dark times so i really dont want to lose my ability to lift heavy sh"t. waiting for your video guide to lifting as an ex LL patient.

thank you

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Quote from: cyborg4life on February 22, 2020, 12:56:57 AMYou got it my man! Here's the video I posted today talking about coming back after LL and the 3 challenges I faced and how I was able to overcome them. Hope it helps and feel free to ask anytime

thank you sir, i will be following your videos and your guide along the way!

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Quote from: WannaGrow on February 27, 2020, 12:46:55 PMKinda on the same boat, I finished my commercial pilot license and waiting for a job at the airlines and have been thinking about doing CLL for years.
I do a lot of weight lifting and yoga, 175cm, wingspan 182cm and my sitting height is quite tall so it's my legs that are shorter in perspective to arms and my upper body but they are thick.
Good amount of strength and sure I will build that up again post op.
I live in Scandinavia so I'm shorter than average, would love to get 8cm taller.
I'm thinking about getting the Precise-2 nail with Dr Dimitrios Giotikas in Greece and postpone my career in aviation for a year of two to get this done. We don't get scanned for foreign metal in our body but I'm sure I'll have some explaining to do when I renew my medical and I'm taller 
Not the youngest anymore, I'm 35 but now have the available cash to do this and been wanting for years....

thanks for your input sir, im glad that there is a future colleague here:)

i have read EASA medical requirements and its not stated there that having a bone surgery sees you as unfit, but might have missed it too so i have to take a look again.

and as long as you have NO limitations for leg movements there should not be any problems ( this was stated by some pilots in the airlinepilotforums.com and to me personally by a pilot friend)

but for my understanding there are 2 downsides to this surgery

1 ) being away from work for about a year will have an effect on finding a job easily since most airliners look for "recent flight experience" like xxx hours in last 3 months, 6 or 9 months. less hours means, harder to find a job.

2) when typing i forgot second the one, will edit.

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Quote from: WannaGrow on February 28, 2020, 12:49:56 PM
Been thinking about getting the instructor rating and at least be able to fly 6-7 months post op as an instructor to get some hours

that might work, or firefighting aircrafts, and i've heard private jets dont look for strict requirements on experience, i wouldnt want to be a private jet pilot though. and 6 to 7 months might be a bit early as well.

i will take a look at EASA today again to find anything specified about having bone surgery or having any foreign items in your bones. but i've read somewhere else that, nail inside your bones lists you as unfit until removal. will clarify that today after searching though.

and yes, as you said the price of this surgery is making me wet. i want to do both femur and tibia for at least a year apart in between but that means 90k euro or dollars minimum.

but are you going to be paid enough to be able to afford this surgery as an instructor?