A woman has bravely shared her experience with the controversial ‘leg lengthening’ surgery, confessing that she now feels ‘ashamed’ for undergoing the procedure. Theresia Fischer, a model and reality TV personality, spent a hefty sum on the surgery to increase her height and has been candid about her journey on social media. Originally standing at 5’6″, Fischer achieved a height of six feet following the surgery.
At the age of 24, Fischer made the decision to undergo this significant procedure, influenced by her ex who convinced her of its necessity. She recalled his manipulative words, saying, “[He would say] ‘You can’t do anything without me. You need me.'” Fischer added, “And if you are told that 20, 30, 60, 70 times – then you believe that you are nothing without him.” In a recent Instagram post celebrating the removal of the rods from her legs, Fischer expressed relief, writing, “Finally, freedom! How I have longed for this day. It is the day of days! The whole thing is finally coming to an end. I’m glad it’s over. Today, I’m [six feet] tall. The pain that I endured for eight years was so enormous (physical and mental) that I cannot even put it into words.”
While the surgery technically succeeded in making Fischer taller, she has voiced significant regrets about undergoing it. In a heartfelt post, she shared her feelings of shame, stating, “I am ashamed because I consented to an operation that shouldn’t have happened. I’ve never dealt with that before because I’ve always been happy with my body.” The procedure itself is quite intense, involving the breaking of leg bones and the insertion of telescopic metal rods to stretch the bone and muscle tissues during the healing process, akin to how braces reposition teeth.
Fischer detailed the grueling procedure, explaining, “The shin bone is broken cleanly, the calf muscles are split and a telescopic rod is used in each case. You stretch your lower legs independently by holding your knee with one and screwing your foot inward with the other hand until it clicks. Ten clicks a day on each side bring an additional 0.5 millimeters [0.02 inches].”
The cost of the surgery was not only financial—amounting to $160,000—but it also came with severe physical repercussions. Fischer gained about 5.5 inches in height but at the cost of developing a chronic condition known as periosteum inflammation, which involves inflammation of the tissue surrounding the bones. This condition can cause symptoms like tissue swelling, fever, chills, stiffness, and bone tenderness, making the overall cost of the procedure both financially and physically immense.