In an era where cosmetic procedures are constantly evolving, a particularly drastic set of surgeries, leg lengthening and leg shortening has garnered significant attention, notably after a character in the film 'Materialists'opted for height alteration. This trend extends far beyond the silver screen, with thousands of individuals, primarily men seeking to gain height and women looking to reduce it, traveling to cities like Istanbul, Turkey, to undergo these intense procedures at clinics such as Make Me Taller, Wanna Be Taller, and Height Reduction.

Leg lengthening surgery, predominantly sought by men, involves a brutal process designed to add several inches to a person's stature. The initial step requires surgeons to cut the leg bone, typically the femur, and implant a device. This device then allows for the gradual separation of the sawn bone ends, creating a space for new bone growth. Through a painful, millimetre-at-a-time process, a small key inserted into the device is turned daily, forcing the bones apart.

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This lengthening continues over several months, with the entire process monitored through multiple surgeries. Frank, a 38-year-old patient, undertook this procedure to gain three inches, aiming to reach 5ft 9in from his original 5ft 6in, motivated by a desire to no longer live as a 'short man' and to be taller than his 5ft 5in wife. Despite the nerve pain he experienced, he endured the ordeal, embodying his ambitious, self-starter mentality. Similarly, Colombian influencerYeferson Cossio paid $175,000 to grow from 5ft 8in to 6ft but later reported suffering constant, excruciating pain.

The recovery for leg lengthening is lengthy and arduous, involving a third surgery to remove the implanted device. Patients must undergo daily physiotherapy to relearn walking, along with massages, blood thinners, and a considerable number of painkillers.