Inside the rise of cosmetic leg lengthening and the risks short kings are ignoring for height

Ah, Gen Z. Not only did we invent the short king, but we’re the generation most likely to preach body positivity.

Maybe I’ve been a little out of the loop, but I really thought we were all championing the whole “every body is a good body” vibe, and moving away from those entrenched gender stereotypes. After all, new research has shown Gen Z are more likely than other generations to disapprove of Tinder’s new height filter. 

But despite all this, an increasing number of young men are paying upwards of £80,00 to put themselves through what can only be described as medieval torture – with risks ranging from severe blood clots to death – all to gain a couple of inches in height.

Cosmetic leg lengthening is, I’m sad to say, on the rise.

So, what actually is cosmetic leg lengthening?

via YouTube

Please, brace yourselves.

Cosmetic leg lengthening involves a doctor drilling a hole into the bones of your leg before they’re both broken in two. Then, a metal rod gets shoved inside and pinned down with screws, and every day it’s lengthened a bit, slowly stretching your limbs until you hit the desired height and your bones start to (hopefully) fuse back together. 

And, if that sounds like the worst part, you’re unfortunately mistaken – the real horrors come afterwards. Daily physiotherapy is needed for the patient to learn to walk again, alongside prescriptions of blood thinners and painkillers for the agonising aftercare. 

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Infections, scarring, chronic pain, blood clots, the poorly named “ballerina syndrome” (which sounds way too cute for a symptom that forces your feet into a painful arch preventing you from walking), and even death, are all possibilities. 

Who’s actually getting this surgery done?

via YouTube

Recent romantic drama Materialists, starring Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal, sparked conversation about leg lengthening due to its storyline featuring the surgery.

Pedro’s character, Harry, is a 10/10 by conventional standards: Attractive, wealthy and six feet tall.

But we later find out (spoiler alert incoming) Harry was a former 5’6 short king, and has legs covered with scars from his limb lengthening op. 

Turns out, it’s actually people like Harry getting the surgery in real life, too. The most common demographic is men in their early to mid twenties, who don’t have underlying medical conditions and are only a little below average height – if they’re below it at all.

Patients mainly seem to be seeking more social acceptance, or self acceptance, and believe they can achieve this with an extra few inches in stature.

One man called Frank, who’s 5’6 and has recently undergone the surgery, told the Guardian: “It’s hard to explain if you’re not a short man yourself, but in modern society it’s almost a curse.”

He cited instances of childhood bullying, cruel dating experiences, and even a mugging incident as events that left him weary and desperate for change. Then, a few years ago, he stumbled across a YouTube video showing cosmetic leg lengthening, and decided to start saving up for it.

Another man the same height as Frank echoed his sentiments. The 25-year-old told Bustle: “Short men aren’t respected; even tall men shit on us. We struggle finding employment, and barely get promoted.”

Why is cosmetic leg lengthening happening more now?

The global industry is estimated to hit £6.4bn by 2030, with UK men now splashing more cash on minor “tweakments” like Botox (or “Brotox as some practitioners jokingly call it) than women. 

Major technological advancements have paved the way for the surgery to enter the mainstream too, bolstered by changing attitudes to cosmetic procedures more generally. But other factors also feel like they’re at play here, such as the rise of the manosphere.

Though pressure for men to look a certain way isn’t new, the proliferation of gym culture seems to have really pushed a kind of “alpha male” aesthetic, potentially increasing height insecurity for those who feel they don’t match up.

Throw in relentless short-man jokes on Love Island, the explosion of social media meaning you can stumble across a video about the op on your morning commute, plus surgeons keen to cash in on £80,000, and you’ve created the perfect storm.

Ultimately though, it’s an extreme length to go (no pun intended this time) for the sake of a few inches, which really begs the question of why society’s made men feel it’s their only viable option in the first place.

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Featured image via Canva