Dr. Axel Becker is a specialist in leg lengthening, a specialist in plastic, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery, a specialist in orthopedics and trauma surgery and carries out cosmetic leg lengthenings in his special clinic in Freiburg. For this purpose – only here – a minimally invasive leg lengthening method BETZBONE®, developed by him and unique in the world, is used.
The entire interview in the original version is available in the information library on our website.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Hello, I welcome you. I would like to know from you whether you had language or communication problems in our clinic since you don’t speak German? Especially when it comes to medical things: with the doctors, nurses, therapists?
Patient
Oh, no, not at all. There were no language barriers. I always understood everything well. Everyone speaks English.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Ok, good, the advice is very important and must be clear and understandable for you. Now to another topic: Many patients tell us about their everyday lives after leg lengthening. How much time the clicking and stretching takes daily. How is it for you? Can you tell me how much time you spend on the renewal procedure each day?
Patient
I need about 2 to 2.5 hours of stretching every day, divided into 5 to 6 sessions.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Ok, so do you start stretching in the morning?
Patient
Yes, in the morning, after breakfast, I start with the stretching exercises. I usually start clicking around 11 a.m. I then rest for another hour and then start with the first stretching exercises. Sometimes I also train on the Ergo Trainer or go for a walk. After lunch I go back to my stretching sessions.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Have you developed a good routine? Are you coping well?
Patient
Yes very good. I’m really happy with how this turned out.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Ok, and how much time do you need to click? Do you do all the clicks in one go?
Patient
Yes, all in one go, about 15 clicks per leg. I’ve been clicking for 5 weeks now, or 6 weeks?
Dr. med. A. Becker
Yes, exactly, it’s been 6 weeks now.
Patient
Ah yes, exactly. So I’m very happy with the development and no longer need as much time as I did at the very beginning. It takes me approximately 45 minutes for both legs to click.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Well, that’s our recommendation – to do all the clicks in one go. Best in the morning or early afternoon. So that there is enough time to release the tension in the muscles that builds up due to the clicking until the evening. Then you sleep better too. Otherwise you will wake up at night and feel the tension.
By the way, stretching exercises are always very important. It doesn’t matter which system is used to lengthen legs.
Because we know that when you lengthen your legs, tension builds up – with every centimeter of extension. This tension pain will then stop when the lengthening process is complete. So 5 to 6 days after the last click, the tension is clearly noticeable. It may still feel like a sore muscle, but it’s usually nothing more.
Dr. med. A. Becker
You have decided to stay with us in Freiburg a little longer and wanted therapeutic support through the extension process. And then you go back to your home country, right?
Patient
Yes, exactly. I figured if there were any problems, I would be there and be able to see you and talk to you in person. That simply gives me the security that I need for myself.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Looking back, would you do this again and again, i.e. stay here longer, or would you, looking back, travel back to your home country sooner?
Patient
I would do it again and again – stay here longer. For me this is perfect. I’m happy that I did exactly that.
Dr. med. A. Becker
Ok, let’s talk briefly about muscle tension. Why you feel this when you lengthen your legs. Basically, it’s like this: you bring a certain flexibility to your muscles. If the leg lengthens and the bones are lengthened, the muscles must also lengthen. Each click affects the muscle, puts tension in the muscle. The original flexibility in the muscle then automatically disappears. That’s why you have to get into balance when the extension begins. The best way to do this is with a daily stretching routine – just like you do. If you don’t release this tension and let more and more tension build up that can’t be released, it would cause the hips to tilt forward, the knees to bend, the legs to form into an X position, etc. Simply because of that , because the muscles are not long enough. So you see, your s