It’s only our legs that are longer

18 year 5’6 (168) guy here. Financial support from my parents means that I can easily afford tibia lengthening with Dr. Parihar who is quite a safe doctor recommended by Paley and Cyborg4Life. I’ll get it done as soon as I’m done with university.

There’s only one issue: does the surgery actually make you taller? I see short men and they have small skulls, hands, feet and frames. Sat down, I’ll be the same small guy. I’ll still have the same small skull standing next to a guy my height once I get the surgery. All this worries me. Am I still going to be seen as that small guy but now with longer legs.

You can only get 2 inches in tibia so I don't think there's much difference between skull, torso of 5'6 and 5'8 guy.

I doubt there is any skull difference that would be noticeable at a modest increase.

No one will notice. You can do 3” without anyone noticing. Doing 5cm on tibias and 5-6cm on femurs is considered safe. Then you’ll be 178cm and that’s pretty fair.

No one will notice your new proportions. My tibias aren't even that long to start with and I have big calves too and no one has noticed.

You won't be big as a guy who is naturally taller. But there is some natural variation, my head is massive, bigger than most guys who are 6'5" and I'm 5'11".
I have a friend who is 6'2" and his hands are smaller than mine.
I also know guys who are 6'2" and they have much bigger hands, frame, head etc than me.

So, except if you're truly on the smaller side you won't look that different from the norm.