Theresia Fischer, a 32-year-old model from Hamburg, Germany, recently shared her story about undergoing an expensive and painful leg-lengthening surgery to please her ex-husband.
Fischer spent over $162,000 on the "Frankenstein" procedure, which involved breaking her femur bones and inserting extendable metal nails.
For several months, the nails were gradually extended, adding 5.5 inches to her height.
Fischer explained that her ex-husband had told her "If you do this for me, I will always love you and carry you in my arms."
According to Fischer, a former "Celebrity Big Brother" star, her decision to undergo leg-lengthening surgery was initially driven by a desire to overcome feelings of depression and a lack of self-confidence about her body.
At the urging of her ex-partner, and with the hope of no longer being alone, the then-24-year-old Fischer agreed to the procedure.
The first surgery took place eight years ago, and in 2022, Fischer returned to have further procedures done, involving the cutting of her thigh and lower leg bones.
Specialists then implanted adjustable, steel telescopic rods into her shinbones to stimulate the growth of new bone tissue and lengthen each limb.
Fischer has stated that the lengthy process of her leg-lengthening surgeries is now finally coming to an end. She expresses relief that this painful experience is over, and she is now standing at 6 feet tall.
Furthermore, she also acknowledges that the pain, both physical and mental, that she has endured over the past 8 years of undergoing these procedures is immense and beyond her ability to put into words.
However, she seems glad to have persevered and achieved her desired height. While the surgery was done to please her ex, Fischer now says she is happier than ever.
Patients must endure a lengthy and painful recovery process, and there is always the possibility of complications.
Despite these challenges, some are willing to go to great lengths to achieve their desired height, even if it means undergoing a "Frankenstein-esque" procedure.
Yeferson Cossio, a Colombian social media influencer, spent $175,000 to undergo leg-lengthening surgery to increase his height by 6 inches, from 5'8" to 6 feet tall.
Cossio shared that this decision was due to his self-consciousness about his legs.
The leg-lengthening procedure is extremely painful and expensive.
It involves breaking the patient's bones, inserting a metal rod, and using an external device to slowly extend the gap, causing the body to generate new tissue and increase bone length.
This process took 152 days, about 6 months, for Cossio, and he then had to undergo physical therapy for several more months to learn to walk on his new, taller legs.
