Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

is there such thing as an operation that can make your bones bigger

This is our reply.......

We are unaware of the reasons why you are asking whether there is an operation to make
your bones bigger. Whatever the reason the following information will hopefully be useful
and helpful.

People's bones grow in stages. As children grow up, from being a baby to just before
puberty, bones grow longer, wider and thicker. In puberty, hormones surge and influence
bone growth. During these teenage years, bones not only keep growing larger, but they
also grow denser. By the early twenties, this process will be complete. After this, there
can be no more growth - the bones are as big as they will ever be.

Once you have reached this age, you can't change the size of your bones, but you can
build up muscle through exercise or put on some weight by eating more or higher calorie
foods.

You ask us if there is any operation that can make your bones bigger. Although they
cannot naturally grow bigger there has been some coverage in the media of limb
lengthening operations that are being carried out at certain clinics around the world.

The following information is taken from www.shortsupport.org/Health/Leg-Lengthening/

Leg Lengthening is a complex process that has traditionally been performed primarily on
children to correct disproportional leg lengths. It has also been an option for people with
dwarfism to gain additional height.

More recently, the procedure has been used to give people with Constitutional Short
Stature two or three extra inches of height. The term Constitutional Short Stature refers to
people who are in the bottom fifth percentile of height in their region and do not display any
deformities common with dwarfism.

Cosmetic Leg Lengthening procedures cannot be compared with more simple plastic
surgery options. They are very complex, painful, costly and require long recovery times
from one half to one full year. People considering this procedure must be fully aware of the
pain and discomfort associated with it and must be mentally prepared for the duration.
Since anti-inflammatory pain medication can disrupt the creation of new bone, some
doctors prescribe minimal pain management.

Patients are often required to undergo a psychological evaluation to ensure they will be
able to endure the recovery, with the necessary positive attitude.

For further information on this subject check out;

· www.bbc.co.uk/science/human body/body/factfiles/bonegrowth/femur.shtml
· <http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/bones.html>
· www.shortsupport.org/Health/Leg-Lengthening/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cambridgeshire/7461248.stm
news.sky.com/.../Leg-Lengthening-Operations.../200907415347224

We hope this reply is helpful and informative.

Best wishes q2a.

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