Professor-Led Limb Reconstruction · Temos-Accredited Hospital · Antalya
Limb Lengthening Surgery in Turkey
Height increase is real, permanent — and surgical. Once your growth plates close, limb lengthening is the only way to become genuinely taller, and it demands a specialist in limb reconstruction. At NewMe your journey is led by a professor of orthopaedic limb reconstruction at Anatolia Hospital in Antalya, with at-home physiotherapy built into the plan.
Typical gain
5–8 cm / stage
Staged potential
Up to ~15 cm
Lengthening pace
~1 mm / day
Full recovery
~9–12 months
OVERVIEW
What is limb lengthening surgery?
Limb lengthening surgery makes the thigh bone (femur) or shin bone (tibia) longer by dividing the bone and separating the two ends very gradually — about 1 mm a day — so that new bone forms in the gap. This process, called distraction osteogenesis, gives a permanent height gain on your own living bone. At NewMe it is performed by Prof. Dr. Ferhat Güler at Anatolia Hospital in Antalya; most patients gain 5–8 cm per stage, with full recovery in around 9–12 months.
1 · Osteotomy
Under anaesthetic, the bone is surgically divided and a lengthening device is fitted — an internal nail, an external frame or a combination.
2 · Distraction
The bone ends are eased apart at roughly 1 mm per day, and your body fills the gap with new bone.
3 · Consolidation
Lengthening stops at your target; the new bone hardens while physiotherapy rebuilds strength, flexibility and walking.
4 · Full integration
The new bone becomes indistinguishable from the old — the height gain is permanent.
METHODS COMPARED
Internal nail, LON or Ilizarov: which method is right for me?
Three proven approaches, one honest answer: the right method depends on your anatomy, your target and your priorities.
| Feature | Internal nail (PRECICE-type) | LON / LATN | Ilizarov / external frame |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Fully internal motorised nail | Nail plus a temporary external frame | External ring frame |
| Comfort & discretion | Highest — nothing outside the leg | Frame removed early, then internal | Frame worn through treatment |
| Typical choice for | Cosmetic height increase | A balance of comfort and budget | Complex corrections and deformity |
| Lengthening control | Remote-controlled lengthening | Manual, surgeon-guided | Maximum mechanical control |
🦴 There is no single “best” method — internal nails lead for comfort and discretion, LON balances comfort and budget, and Ilizarov remains the standard for complex reconstruction. Prof. Güler recommends yours at assessment.
IS IT RIGHT FOR YOU?
Am I a candidate for limb lengthening?
This is major elective surgery — the assessment is genuinely selective, and “not yet” or “not this much” are answers Prof. Güler gives when they are the truth.
✓ Your growth plates have closed (typically from your early twenties) and you are in good general health
✓ You are seeking a realistic height increase — about 5–8 cm per stage
✓ You can commit to months of physiotherapy and gradual rehabilitation
✓ You are a non-smoker or willing to stop — smoking measurably slows bone healing
It may not be suitable with untreated conditions that affect bone healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes or active infection, or with targets beyond what your anatomy can safely achieve.
YOUR SURGEON
Who will perform my limb lengthening surgery?
Your surgery and every review are carried out by a professor of orthopaedic limb reconstruction — not handed over to a junior team.
Prof. Dr. Ferhat Güler
Limb lengthening is not general orthopaedics — it is a sub-speciality measured in millimetres and months. Prof. Güler leads your entire journey personally: method selection, surgery, every lengthening adjustment and your consolidation reviews.
YOUR HOSPITAL
Where is my limb lengthening surgery performed?
Your operation and hospital stay take place at Anatolia Hospital in Antalya — one of NewMe’s contracted institutions, accredited by Temos for Quality in Medical Care. After the hospital phase you move to comfortable private accommodation for the lengthening phase, with physiotherapy and regular imaging reviews organised around you.
YOUR TIMELINE
What is recovery like after limb lengthening?
Day 0 — Surgery
Osteotomy and device fitting under anaesthetic; hospital monitoring, pain management and your first assisted steps.
Months 1–3 — Distraction
About 1 mm per day of gradual lengthening, with at-home physiotherapy and regular imaging.
Months 4–6 — Consolidation
Lengthening is complete; the new bone hardens while therapy rebuilds strength. Walking with support typically returns around months 5–6.
Months 9–12 — Full recovery
Independent, natural walking and everyday activity; high-impact sport is reintroduced gradually once the bone has fully consolidated.
🏠 Comfortable accommodation
Months in a hospital room is not recovery. We arrange private, comfortable accommodation for the critical phase, with medical support around it — booked separately from your surgery.
🧑⚕️ At-home physiotherapy
Your physiotherapist comes to you through the distraction and early consolidation phases — consistent therapy is one of the biggest factors in walking confidently again.
🩻 Professor-led reviews
Regular imaging and in-person reviews with Prof. Güler track every millimetre of new bone.
💬 Remote continuation
Most patients stay in Antalya for the early, critical phase, then continue rehabilitation near home with remote follow-up.
SAFETY
What are the risks of limb lengthening?
Limb lengthening has a strong safety record in experienced hands, but it is major surgery with a long recovery and real risks. Prof. Güler discusses each of them openly at assessment.
Common and expected
Pain and discomfort during lengthening, swelling, temporary stiffness of the knee or ankle, and tight muscles that need daily stretching.
Less common
Infection — particularly around the pins of an external frame — nerve irritation, the new bone healing too slowly or too quickly, and problems with the device.
Rare but serious
Bone that fails to consolidate and needs further surgery, a fracture of the new bone, lasting joint stiffness, and blood clots.
How we reduce your risk: careful selection and a safe target for your anatomy; a lengthening pace adjusted on imaging, not a fixed schedule; consistent physiotherapy; regular professor-led reviews; and clear guidance on warning signs throughout your recovery.
PRICING
How is limb lengthening priced?
Pricing depends on the method (internal nail, LON or Ilizarov), whether one or both segments are lengthened, and how long you stay for the supported phase, so quotes are individual. After your free assessment you receive a written quote listing exactly what is covered — surgery, hospital stay, device, physiotherapy programme and VIP transfers. Accommodation is arranged for you and quoted separately. Your written quote is your final price.
FOR UK PATIENTS
Planning limb lengthening in Turkey from the UK
NHS and limb lengthening
Cosmetic height-increase surgery is not available on the NHS; NHS limb reconstruction is reserved for medical problems such as limb-length differences or deformity.
Direct flights, about 4 hours
Antalya has direct flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham and other UK airports. UK passport holders can visit Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days.
English throughout
Free video consultation and every clinical conversation in fluent English — no translator between you and your professor.
Reports for home
A full English-language surgical report and imaging for follow-up and rehabilitation at home, with remote reviews through consolidation.
New to treatment abroad? Our step-by-step guide for UK patients walks you through the whole journey.
QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
How much height can I gain?
Most patients safely gain about 5–8 cm from lengthening one bone segment. Some choose a staged approach — femur first, then tibia — reaching up to roughly 15 cm across more than one procedure. Prof. Güler advises the safe maximum for your anatomy.
Can adults really get taller with surgery?
Yes. Once growth plates close, height can only be increased surgically. The bone is divided and gradually lengthened at about 1 mm per day; new bone forms in the gap, and the gain is permanent.
Is limb lengthening safe?
Performed by an experienced limb-reconstruction surgeon in an accredited hospital, it has a strong safety record — but it is major surgery with real risks, including infection, nerve irritation and joint stiffness. We discuss them openly at assessment.
Internal nail or Ilizarov — which is best?
There is no single best. Internal nails are the most comfortable and discreet — the popular choice for cosmetic height. LON balances comfort and budget. The Ilizarov frame offers maximum control for complex corrections. Your method is a clinical recommendation.
How painful is it, and how long is recovery?
There is discomfort, especially during lengthening, managed with medication and physiotherapy. Walking with support typically returns around months 5–6, with full recovery in about 9–12 months.
How long do I stay in Turkey?
Most patients stay in Antalya for the early, most critical phase — surgery, early lengthening and physiotherapy — then continue rehabilitation closer to home with remote follow-up.
Will I walk and exercise normally afterwards?
That is the goal, and most patients return to natural walking and everyday activity with diligent physiotherapy. High-impact sport returns gradually once consolidation is complete.
How is pricing handled?
Quotes are individual — method, segments and stay length all matter. After your free assessment you receive a written quote covering surgery, hospital, device, physiotherapy and transfers; accommodation is quoted separately. Your written quote is your final price.
Which hospital is the surgery performed in?
At Anatolia Hospital in Antalya, one of NewMe’s contracted institutions, accredited by Temos for Quality in Medical Care.
Is accommodation included?
No. We arrange comfortable private accommodation for your recovery phase and quote it separately; your surgery quote covers the operation, hospital stay, device, physiotherapy programme and VIP transfers.
Ready to stand taller — for good?
A free, honest assessment with a limb-reconstruction professor: your realistic gain, the right method and a written plan — no pressure, no obligation.
