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 lengthening 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.

People interested in leg lengthening want to know what scars will appear on their legs after surgery. How big the scars are and what of the scars is visible?

To explain this, let’s take the example of a leg extension in the thigh area. It is important to know that leg lengthening in our Freiburg clinic is always a minimally invasive procedure. This means that only the smallest incisions are made for the operation.

Using the example of leg extension in the thigh, these small openings are only ever made in the outer area of ​​the thigh. Never in the inner thigh area. The small openings/incisions are used to prepare the medullary canal, insert the extension nail into the medullary canal, adjust screws and bands in the extension system and insert a ventilation cannula. This ventilation cannula is used to avoid or maximally reduce the risk of an embolism (closure of vessels).

During a minimally invasive leg lengthening procedure of the thigh, 4 small openings (approx. 1-3 cm) are created. Only tiny, barely visible scars remain from these openings.

How long does the leg lengthening implant stay in the bone/thigh? And how is it removed?

After about 2 years, the implant and the extension mechanism are removed. No larger additional openings are made for this, only new stab incisions have to be made to remove the blocking screws, as these move with the bone in relation to the skin. The appearance of the scar only changes minimally when the implant is removed.