Specialists have issued a caution regarding ‘limb-lengthening’ surgery following a man’s decision to undergo the procedure to increase his height by four inches.
Irakli Archvadze, 36, from Tbilisi, Georgia, had always felt ‘uncomfortable’ with his original height of 5ft 7in.
Called a ‘short king’, Irakli shared his experience of visiting a clinic in Turkey, where he opted for limb-lengthening surgery. This involved surgeons breaking his femurs and installing metal frames in his legs.
After the operation, Irakli used an Allen key over three months to incrementally separate the broken femurs by 1mm daily, promoting new bone growth in the gaps.
By May, his height had increased to 5ft 10.7in. He now reports feeling more confident, despite enduring ‘intense pain’.
He told PA Real Life: “People don’t understand how us short kings feel. With my height, I felt like part of my puzzle was missing, and I found this part, through the surgery, and now I feel accomplished, so my puzzle is complete.
“It’s easier to get things from the kitchen cupboard and I will see if I can see better at concerts now!”
Irakli even left his job to concentrate on his surgery and healing process, stating that he developed a ‘warrior mindset’ before the procedure and ‘wasn’t nervous at all’.
Since the surgery, Irakli has been attending physiotherapy sessions three times a week.
“I stretched as much as possible and I woke up five times per night, stretched in the bed and went back to sleep, and I went to the gym almost every day,” Irakli explained. “I used a walker to get around. There was some intense pain, but I prepared myself mentally so it was okay, and I had painkillers too.
“Pain is inevitable in this process but I looked at the pain as progress – fear is an obstacle to a progress. Therefore, I pushed myself not to give up and to go forward.”
Irakli expressed immense satisfaction with the results of the procedure, which cost around £36,190 ($49,119), and noted that his friends applauded him upon his return home.
He said: “It felt amazing, I’m really satisfied with my height now, and I achieved what I dreamed of. Everybody was shocked by my height, and right now I’m taller or at the same height as my friends.
“I feel like I’ve got more respect from my friends now because once you go through a challenge, and once you win your battle, you are a strong person and I proved to them that I can do something that’s really hard.”
Irakli is not alone in having undergone this surgery. Chandler Crews, who was born with achondroplasia, has had three ‘limb-stretching’ procedures and shared how it ‘changed everything’ for her.
Despite the positive experiences of Chandler and Irakli, professionals have raised concerns about the surgery.
Professor Tim Briggs, an orthopaedic surgeon, advised The Guardian: “It is a serious, invasive procedure that can be beneficial for patients when there is a genuine clinical need but carries significant risks and requires informed discussions between patient and surgeon.
“Patients face months of treatment, which can be extremely painful, with the possibility of infection, nerve damage, blood clots and even permanent disability.
“Anyone considering this surgery for cosmetic reasons abroad should think very carefully about the long recovery and the risks, and I would urge against it unless well informed about where they are seeking treatment.
“Don’t gamble with your health or your life for a few extra inches without fully understanding the risks.”
Main concerns about limb-lengthening surgery include infection, nerve damage, and potential discrepancies in leg length. Additionally, if the bones are stretched too quickly, there is a risk they may not heal or grow correctly, leading to weakened tissues that cannot support the body’s weight.