Worth it at 5’9?

Hi,

22 yo, currently 5’9 on the dot. I’ve ALWAYS felt short and it’s never been about girls or comparing to friends, I’ve always just had this in my head since I stopped growing (around 16). I’m about to get a job that pays 90-100k a year. Is this worth saving up for? I would only do it quadrilateral for proportions, probably 6cm and 4cm (femurs and tibias). That would put me at 6’1. Thoughts? And I would 1000% only do it in the US, ideally Paley institute or maybe Mahboubian/assayag/Limbplastx. Need some advice plz thanks

Which country do you stay?

If you are planning yo do it in the US you Will be just fine, but I still would advice you doing just one segment. Tibias or femurs, femurs been the first option. 6 cm on your femurs will make a difference and just adding a lil More than an inch and going thru the same harsh surgery isn't worth it.

For what it’s worth, I was about to do the operation at your height with a top US surgeon due to my own neurosis (I’m 25) and decided last minute to cancel/postpone it at least until my late 20s early 30s. I have the funds and can technically pull the plug at any time, but at our (average) height you have to MAKE SURE it’s not you just being a bit precious or nitpicking; it’s not a statistically or visually short height but it IS a major operation with not much long term data around it and you really want to know that the likely impacts on your health will be worth it. This s*** has to be debilitating to consider it at that height. It’s a lot of potential hell to pay for a slight mindset shift.

Not speaking against it, just not something I’d rush into. Go out, try lifts (can take you to 5’11.5 ish), groom to the max, change your mindset etc. If you’ve not gotten over your height by your late 20s, early 30s, then I say go for it— I certainly will if I haven’t.

(Speaking for the US)

Man, 5'9 is so borderline it's tough. I really understand your pain.

5'10 is the widespread social media *magic height* for being above reproach (literally due to just a rounded number, which is ass).

Like 5'8 and below, I'll never question someone for doing CLL.

5'10 and above, your real goal with CLL is to have power / respect / authority.

I'm 5'7 and I'm going to fight like hell to hit 8cm to officially reach 5'10. I know that I'll psychologically be sour if I end up < 5'9.5.

In practice, it's so dumb. Nobody can tell the difference between 5'9.5 and 5'10, or 5'9 and 5'10. It's the stupid social media worms in your head.

I know this isn't an answer, but I just want to let you know I understand where you're coming from, not feeling enough at 5'9, even though it is average height.

What's your race, btw? If you're white, I understand your frustration even more, because average white american is like 5'10 (and we tend to compare ourselves to other members of our own race even more)

I think one thing you really have to think about is sports. If you're really into sports, that's gonna take a hit. I'm a book nerd whose "athletics" consists of casual lifting and casual bjj, neither of which require much standing agility or quickness.

Also: Would internally knowing you're >5'10 solve your issue? Or would you have to hit >5'11 to solve it? Or 6 foot?

If you'd be cool with 5'11 / 5'11.5, 5.5 / 6 cm (2-2.4 inches) on femurs is generally reported to be the golden min-max of lengthening, where you maximize height while taking a minimal toll on athleticism and minimizing risk.

And regarding quad: General consensus is don't plan on it until you complete femurs and give that a test run in society. There's a stat where it's like 80% (or 90%? can't remember) of folks who do a femur lengthening are satisfied and don't go on to a second lengthening.

One other note: I do think needing 6'1 over 6' is stupid, straight up. *THAT* is social bull . And you could literally reach 6ft with one 8cm lengthening on femur. This way, you'll give up only like 1 year of your life rather than 3. 3 = 1 year femur, then 1 year recovery while waiting for your life to begin, then 1 more year tibia. fk that, dude.

Also, I have a friend who reached 6'4, and he was pissed because he found out guys over 6 foot lied about their height as well. He sincerely wishes he could go back and just stop at 6'. It turned out 6'1 guys were really 5'11, 6'2 guys were really 6', 6'3 dudes were like 6'0.5, so on.

And since he was 5'7 before all of it, he didn't realize it until he was towering over them all.

Hey,

Thanks for the advice. I’m white, and yeah being 5’9 makes it a tough decision for sure. What about the femur/tibia option where after 3-4 weeks post tibia u do femur? I mean I only want like 5-6cm in femur and 3-4 in tibia. Both ik are doable, it’s just 4 broken bones as opposed to 2. I get that. And I would really like to hit 6ft, and I definitely don’t want to do 8cm femurs, my femurs are already long, and I’ve done the measurements and compared ratios.

Quad I would also consider the price. For US doctors, you'll also have to consider price of housing and transportation, which will be bonkers. For Paley, a Quad procedure is $200k BEFORE other costs (https://limblengthening.org/lengthening-options/). So let's ballpark $220k.

I don't want to be an  , but if your income is 90-100k, it's gonna take you awhile to save up that disposable income. Suppose you somehow save 30k a year after taxes and bare minimum retirement contribution-- you're going to be waiting for 7 years. But let's suppose you get promoted once and for arguments sake say you lower that to 6 years. That's 6 years of time you spend angry, unconfident, and pining for the future. That's ALL OF YOUR 20's.

OR you could go to Birkholtz in South Africa or Assayag in Baltimore for femurs for $80k in 2.5 years, both banger doctors. Then, you can spend the next 3.5 or 4.5 years not as miserable while waiting for tibs (you're now 5'11, baby!) OR even realize that you don't need tibs anymore. And we can also talk about the newfound confidence you'll be able to put to work (in and outside of job) within that 3.5-4.5 window you would have just been grinding towards some future, had you been waiting for quad. And who knows-- within that 3.5/4.5 year time span 5'11 you might go for some insane balls to the walls opportunity 5'9 you would have been too busy looking down to notice.

The opportunity cost of this idea-- waiting to do quad-- is just MASSIVE.

Quote from: badgerbrocktree on February 05, 2025, 10:34:07 PMQuad I would also consider the price. For US doctors, you'll also have to consider price of housing and transportation, which will be bonkers. For Paley, a Quad procedure is $200k BEFORE other costs (https://limblengthening.org/lengthening-options/). So let's ballpark $220k.

I don't want to be an  , but if your income is 90-100k, it's gonna take you awhile to save up that disposable income. Suppose you somehow save 30k a year after taxes and bare minimum retirement contribution-- you're going to be waiting for 7 years. But let's suppose you get promoted once and for arguments sake say you lower that to 6 years. That's 6 years of time you spend angry, unconfident, and pining for the future. That's ALL OF YOUR 20's.

OR you could go to Birkholtz in South Africa or Assayag in Baltimore for femurs for $80k in 2.5 years, both banger doctors. Then, you can spend the next 3.5 or 4.5 years not as miserable while waiting for tibs (you're now 5'11, baby!) OR even realize that you don't need tibs anymore. And we can also talk about the newfound confidence you'll be able to put to work (in and outside of job) within that 3.5-4.5 window you would have just been grinding towards some future, had you been waiting for quad. And who knows-- within that 3.5/4.5 year time span 5'11 you might go for some insane balls to the walls opportunity 5'9 you would have been too busy looking down to notice.

The opportunity cost of this idea-- waiting to do quad-- is just MASSIVE.

You don’t have to be angry and unconfident at 5’9. And 5’9 you should be able to get similar opportunities to 5’11 you (literally just wear lifts ffs). I don’t think you really understand the severity of the surgery you’re recommending to an average height dude. Like he can lie he’s 5’10 and wear lifts. At 5’7.5 I get why you would feel the need to do it, but I think he should get on with his life reassured that he’s around average height and then if he’s still bothered later on when he’d likely have the financial capital, do it then.

Quote from: badgerbrocktree on February 05, 2025, 10:34:07 PMThe opportunity cost of this idea-- waiting to do quad-- is just MASSIVE.

Yeah we all know capitalism is sh*t. Your point?