Posted on Dec 31, 2023, 9:01 pm
#1
Hey LLers,
I’ve been lurking on these forums for almost two years. It has been an incredibly useful resource towards my decision on if and how to lengthen.
In April 2024, I will have a bilateral lengthening surgery with Dr. Giotikas in Athens using the weight-bearing G-Nail to lengthen my femurs by 5cm. I’m sharing this diary with as much detail and data as I can in case it’s useful for others who are considering the surgery.
Motivation
My height puts me at the 25th percentile in my country. I struggle to consistently be confident and outgoing due to a frequent preoccupation with height, which hinders my social wellbeing. I believe being raised (literally) to average height combined with therapy will lead to an improved self-perception and a more fulfilling life.
Stats
Basics: 29, Male, European
Starting height: 171cm (target after surgery: 176cm)
Wingspan: 176cm
Weight: 76kg (target before surgery: 73kg)
Fitness:
Operation
I have the following constraints for the operation:
Which resulted in the following decisions:
Expected timeline
Preparation
Stretching: Quads, hamstrings, hip adductors, IT band stretch routine in the mornings & evenings.
Gym: Resistance training twice a week to maintain muscle mass. I have large thigh muscles so I'm unsure if it’s best to let those muscles atrophy before the surgery or keep them to maintain strength.
Equipment & supplements:
Would love advice on what else to consider.
Recovery
I plan to stay 4 weeks in either the Grand Hyatt or Novotel in Athens and the remaining 4+ weeks in an Airbnb. It would be great to hear experiences from other patients that have stayed in Athens regarding accommodation. I’m also unsure whether to hire a caretaker or not.
Estimated costs
Next posts
I’ll try to capture in my follow-up posts:
Let me know what other information would be useful.
I’ve been lurking on these forums for almost two years. It has been an incredibly useful resource towards my decision on if and how to lengthen.
In April 2024, I will have a bilateral lengthening surgery with Dr. Giotikas in Athens using the weight-bearing G-Nail to lengthen my femurs by 5cm. I’m sharing this diary with as much detail and data as I can in case it’s useful for others who are considering the surgery.
Motivation
My height puts me at the 25th percentile in my country. I struggle to consistently be confident and outgoing due to a frequent preoccupation with height, which hinders my social wellbeing. I believe being raised (literally) to average height combined with therapy will lead to an improved self-perception and a more fulfilling life.
Stats
Basics: 29, Male, European
Starting height: 171cm (target after surgery: 176cm)
Wingspan: 176cm
Weight: 76kg (target before surgery: 73kg)
Fitness:
- 5k pace: 4:30 min/km
- 10k pace: 4:45 min/km
- Squat: 115 kg 1RM
- RDL: 130 kg 1RM
- Bench press: 80 kg 1RM
Operation
I have the following constraints for the operation:
- Low risk of complications.
- Maintain normal proportions.
- Eventually get back to 90% of my current fitness level.
- Get back to walking as soon as possible.
- Europe based.
Which resulted in the following decisions:
- Length: 5cm as my femurs are already slightly disproportionate to my tibias, and the moderate length will lead to a shorter turnaround time and higher likelihood of getting back to my previous fitness level. Depending on my perception after the surgery, I would consider lengthening a “safe” amount (4cm) on my tibias in ~2 years to reach 180cm and better proportions.
- Surgeon: Dr. Giotikas as he’s one of the most experienced surgeons in Europe, and there are multiple successful diary entries in this forum. He has been empathetic, patient and informative in our consultations so far.
- Nail: G-Nail looks to be the most reliable weight-bearing nail in the market right now. My understanding is that a weight-bearing nail will cause less muscle atrophy and lead to faster recovery compared to an NWB nail. The downside is the clicking mechanism which is more complex and stressful.
Expected timeline
- -90 days (now) - Start preparation
- -3 days - Go to Athens
- +0 days - Operation
- +7 days - Distraction phase and PT begins
- +30 days - Work remotely while doing PT
- +57 days - Consolidation phase begins
- +60-90 days - Go back to home city with less frequent PT
- +120 days - Walk is mostly back to normal
- +150 days - Consolidation phase ends
- + 360 days - Rods removal
- + 375 days - Can gradually resume intense activities (running, tennis)
- + 620 days - (potentially) Start lengthening 4cm on tibias
Preparation
Stretching: Quads, hamstrings, hip adductors, IT band stretch routine in the mornings & evenings.
Gym: Resistance training twice a week to maintain muscle mass. I have large thigh muscles so I'm unsure if it’s best to let those muscles atrophy before the surgery or keep them to maintain strength.
Equipment & supplements:
- Collagen (muscle, bone and skin)
- Glucosamine (joint and soft tissue)
- Whey (protein)
- Omega-3 (anti-inflammatory)
- Curcumin (anti-inflammatory)
- Multivitamin: B, C, D, Zinc, K2
- Melatonin and Magnesium Bisglycinate (sleep)
- CBD (pain management & sleep)
- Compression sleeves (circulation)
- Mattress topper (sleep)
- Laptop & Oculus (entertainment)
- Yoga mat and stretching belt (home stretching)
- Grabber tool
- Hot & cold packs
Would love advice on what else to consider.
Recovery
I plan to stay 4 weeks in either the Grand Hyatt or Novotel in Athens and the remaining 4+ weeks in an Airbnb. It would be great to hear experiences from other patients that have stayed in Athens regarding accommodation. I’m also unsure whether to hire a caretaker or not.
Estimated costs
- Surgery: €48,900
- Rod removal: €4,200
- Accommodation: €100 euro * 60 days = €6,000
- Food: €50 * 60 days = €3,000
- Plane tickets: €300
- Ground transportation: €500
Next posts
I’ll try to capture in my follow-up posts:
- Pre-op blood work & x-rays.
- Surgery experience.
- Recovery experience & videos.
- Post-recovery blood work & x-rays.
Let me know what other information would be useful.
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