A surgeon who offers shocking ‘limb lengthening’ surgery to make people taller has revealed that the bizarre practice is on the rise – and it’s overwhelmingly men who opt to have it done.
Dr Shahab Mahboubian, 47, from Burbank, California, has been performing height-increasing surgeries for over a decade and is able to stretch his patients’ limbs by up to 5.6 inches.
The surgery works by cutting through bone and adding an adjustable ‘nail’.
Dr Mahboubian says he is getting more patients than ever and claims that his clients are 80% men.
“We’ve definitely seen more requests,” the surgeon, who runs the Height Lengthening Institute, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“Being short can cause a huge psychological and mental impact on a person’s life and can tremendously decrease their confidence.
“Those who undergo the surgery desire an increase in their self-confidence and they’re sick of feeling inferior to others.
“The psychological positive impact and boost in self-esteem after getting taller is tremendous and truly beautiful to witness.
“The long-lasting effects are life-changing.
“When we ask our patients if they would do it again, they all say yes!
“Our patients are approximately 80% men and 20% women.
“A part of the reason for this is likely because women can wear high heels to increase their height.
“Also, men are generally more attractive and successful when they are taller.”
While it has proven to be popular, the procedure doesn’t come cheap – costing $75,000 for the lengthening of femurs and $85,000 for the lengthening of tibias.
Clients who want maximum results with a combined approach are looking at a hefty $155,000 fee.
And, unsurprisingly, it is pretty painful and makes for a lengthy recovery process – 3-4 months before the patient can walk without assistance, and 6-8 before they can do sports again.
Dr Mahboubian shares his results on social media, where he has 170,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined.
In one post, he explains how the procedure works, showing the large nail that is implanted into the femur or the tibia.
The nail communicates with a magnetic machine that the patients hold on their leg, three times a day for 3-4 months.
The bone can then lengthen 1mm each day – adding to the permanent height.
One year later, the nail is removed through the same incisions.
With two surgeries, the doctor says patients can get six inches taller.
Pictures on his social media pages show men going from 5’4 to 5’7 after the procedure, posing next to Dr Mahboubian to demonstrate the changes.
