Limb Lenghtening with Dr Guichet 2017

Hi everyone! I am a 22 year old medical student from South America, and I will be traveling to Milan on January 25th for the pre-op training with Dr. Guichet. I am starting this thread to contact any LimbLengthener currently in Milan, and also to answer any question you may have regarding the procedure or the post-op management. Please excuse my English! Good luck for everyone who has decided to embark on this journey. Stay safe.

Cool congrats. Anything you'd be willing to share about yourself? How was it getting into contact with Guichet and figuring out LL?

First tell us about which bone will you length, how much,if the fixador is internal or external! Thank you for sharing these informations

Quote from: Robespierre on January 14, 2017, 05:17:40 AMFirst tell us about which bone will you length, how much,if the fixador is internal or external! Thank you for sharing these informations

I am sure he's going for femur with Guichet

Whats your initial height?

How much does the surgery cost in US$?

How many cm you want to achieve?

Internal femurs. Starting height 166 cm. Goal: what my body can handle, realistically 7-8 cm. For the surgery you have to pay in 2 different bank accounts: 28000 euros (nail implants) 31000 GBP (surgery itself). You can do the math. Pre-op exams, medications, cardiac and dentist consultation are not included.

About getting in contact with Dr Guichet, it is very variable. The first time I wrote to him, I had to wait about 1 month for the response. (Dr Guichet said he had no secretary at the time). Then he always responded the following day. Now that almost all is planned (appointments in Milan, documents ,etc), the only thing I do not know is when the initial consultation will be. I wrote to him last week, but no answer yet. Does anyone know a way to reach Dr. Guichet other than his email?

How is your flexibility, can you palm the floor with your legs straight?

When do you plan to have your surgery?

Why did you choose Milan over London, especially as you speak English?

Good luck, I appreciate you taking the time to write to us.

Maybe its because he's from South America and he's better with Spanish?

Quote from: fivesix on January 14, 2017, 05:20:53 PMMaybe its because he's from South America and he's better with Spanish?

Actually, I'm pretty sure they speak Italian in Italy 

I can touch the floor with my legs straight (not the whole palm). My flexibility is average at best. After 30 days of pre-op training, I believe the surgery will take place late February or early March. London is overall a more expensive city, but the main reason is that I have a place to stay in Milan (distant relative) at least for a couple months. I speak a little Italian, at least enough to survive everyday life.

Have you ever thought about LL Barcelona, Spain with Dr. Alejandro Monegal?
Total cost are here are around 36,000 euro total everything covered, which is almost half of what you pay.
And you get treated by one of the best surgeons in LL in the world (according to Wittenstein company),
and fitbone implant seems to be every bit as good if not better than Precise, Betz bone or Guichet nail.
Also, if you stay at recovery residence, you will be with other patients (including me) and can use the gym and pool right in the building and have 24 hours support from caretakers.

Only drawback: you will probably not improve your Italian that much.

Aren't there many reports and diaries about fitbone malfunctioning? While I would've preferred a "cheaper" lengthening, it is a surgery with many risks, some of them permanent. I am not interested in being a pro athlete, but functionality is my number 1 priority. That being said, Paley and Guichet are living legends in the lengthening business. They have developed the procedure throughout the years, especially Paley who is very active in the scientific community (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27892743). There are plenty good doctors out there, but for this procedure, I want the best I can get.

You are lucky you get a gym and pool, and support from caretakers and fellow limb lengtheners! Post-op period is most important. Dr Guichet is also really stern about physical condition and training.