Is an IT band release necessary?

If you want more than 5cm it is a good idea to do it. Even if you don't it is a good idea. It is soft tissue that heals completely quickly and makes the process easier by making you less tight. Paley has mentioned that after healing it is like nothing ever happened to the band. Most surgeons do this prophylactically because it's that safe and beneficial. It is nothing close to an Achilles lengthening which is downright much much more brutal and has devasting lingering effects. This will greatly improve your chances of getting your desired goal.

It is not required, but most people get it because the upside is very good. Even gymnasts who are ridiculously flexible eventually get it half way into lengthening because that's how tight the IT band gets. Better to do it early in the same operation as original surgery than later eh? It's not unecessary, if it was then why would every good surgeon do it? That's ridiculous. You really trust the word of Betz over Paley, Rozbruch, Mahboubian, Parihar, Giotikas, Donghoon Lee?

I agree that it is a bit odd that all the top docs perform one and Betz doesn’t but I guess it is down to different philosophies on recovery / healing etc. The more I read into precise and betzbone, the more I am favouring precise. It just seems like an overall safer nail even if the latest betzbone is fully weight bearing.

My main concern is if I am back in my home country and I encounter an issue with the betzbone, would a surgeon here be likely to be able to fix it if needed? Whereas precise is widely used worldwide so I imagine issues could be resolved more easily.