Frank, a 38-year-old husband and father from the United Kingdom, has recently begun an extraordinary journey. Now he has made the decision to have leg lengthening surgery, a life-altering decision. At 5 feet 6 inches (1.7m) tall, Frank is just under the male global average in height. He refers to his lived experience as life from the “short man’s” perspective. This perceived loss of control has affected every element of his life, leading him to search for an extreme remedy.
Frank also recently elected to have lap surgery at the Wanna Be Taller clinic, Istanbul. This hospital is well-known for its shady, unethical operations intended to make people taller. The operation involves breaking his femurs to insert metal rods and add fixators, a process that cannot be taken lightly. To do this, he wants to grow tall enough to be the average male height of 175 centimeters, or 5 feet, 9 inches. This ambitious target exceeds the 8.5 centimeters that medical professionals advise is the maximum threshold for his muscles and tendons to handle safely.
Before choosing to go under the knife, Frank was faced with monumental concerns, most notably, the fear of getting his legs broken. He told her that he had a lot of reservations about the procedure. Despite these concerns, he felt compelled to pursue the surgery, stating, “I’m making my own height, choosing how tall I want to be.” He does have the typical healthy human interest in physical beauty. This determination, too, has made him pretty confident socially.
The physical and emotional impact of this procedure is profound, but the financial burden is extremely high. Frank’s surgery was $32,000 (£24,000). This figure accounts for multiple months spent living in a hotel and extensive physiotherapy. While the actual recovery process will take months, he’s already started the long road to healing, especially after undergoing the first of two planned surgeries. To maintain Frank’s fixators, he needs to turn a key on a daily basis. While this process makes it possible for them to lengthen his legs, he goes through agonizing pain in the process.
Frank’s wife, Emilia, 5’5 herself, goes along with her husband’s choice. She has expressed her feelings on the matter, stating, “Having food, a comfortable bed – that’s real happiness.” Emilia adds her thoughts on the future: “After that, if it’s buying a house, we’ll go for it. And if it’s jumping on your legs and being a giant, do that too. Their common ambitions reveal a deep sense of connection to one another’s goals and dreams.
Frank’s experience is part of a larger social phenomenon that sets unrealistic expectations about height and self-image. He articulated this sentiment by saying, “It’s hard to explain if you’re not a short man yourself, but in modern society it’s almost a curse.” He stressed that his decision isn’t about rejecting masculine norms. Instead, as an autistic man, his priority is to get to an average height that matches what society deems acceptable. He asserted, “It’s not about being more masculine; it’s about being average height.”
The psychological effects of height are complicated and layered. Frank’s story strikes a chord with those who have ever been made to feel smaller because of their height. A fellow patient at the Wanna Be Taller clinic described societal bias towards height as “the last acceptable prejudice in society.” This quote really illuminates how heightism is everywhere, even in forces that seek to make short people more confident and comfortable in their bodies.
As Frank moves through his recovery and rehabilitation, he still finds ways to measure his coordinated length against Emilia’s. He argues that knowing how to tell them apart will pay off. Believe me, the work and suffering you experience in the process will pay off handsomely. It’s hard, but it’s worth it at the end,” he said, emphasizing both his desire to change and his resolve to change.
Dr. Serkan Aksoy, a top surgeon at Wanna Be Taller clinic, discusses some crucial points. He explains the dangers involved with elective surgeries such as these. He cautioned patients that “1cm is not more important than your health,” emphasizing the importance of careful consideration before undergoing such transformative procedures.
Frank’s journey is representative of a new and growing phenomenon among men. They’re willing to put their money and muscle where their mouths are to improve their position. It asks important questions about fitting in, societal pressures, and how far people will go to conform. As this phenomenon continues to gain more visibility, it opens the door for greater conversations surrounding self-acceptance and personal identity.