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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.
Dr. A. Becker
Hello, I welcome you. You had an operation 13 days ago, meaning you had the BETZBONE® implant for leg lengthening implanted in both thighs. Can you tell us how you experienced the leg lengthening surgery?
Patient
I didn’t notice anything about the operation. The first thing I remember when I woke up was two nurses standing at my bedside, looking after me and asking how I was doing. I felt good, but it was clear to me that the painkillers given would still have an effect after an operation and that’s why I didn’t feel any pain.
Dr. A. Becker
And then, we got up straight away, right?
Patient
Yes, exactly, I got up with your help. Ok, I was still a little wobbly on my feet, but it actually wasn’t a problem for me to stand right after the procedure. I have to say, I’m relatively sporty, so that definitely had a positive effect.
Dr. A. Becker
Very good.
It is certainly important for other patients to know how much time the lengthening process, the clicking and the associated important and necessary stretching exercises – i.e. the daily routine after leg lengthening surgery – take.
First of all, from our perspective: In general, clicking takes 30 to 45 minutes a day. We recommend doing the clicking in the morning in a relaxed situation. The stretching exercises throughout the day take approximately 2 to 3 hours. You should definitely do these stretching exercises in order to completely release the tension built up in the muscular area by the end of the day. These stretches are actually the basis of all leg lengthening. You specify the route – we call it distraction/bone stretching/bone distraction – and you have to break down this specified route through stretching and stretching exercises during the day. If you don’t do this or don’t do it consistently, and as recommended, leg lengthening patients sleep restlessly. Can you confirm that?
Patient
In fact, you are motivated to stretch, i.e. to relax the muscle, because you can really feel the pulling very clearly after clicking. And after stretching, this pulling goes away and I then feel a feeling of relaxation in the muscle. At the moment I still have to organize the time for stretching exercises, but I think that this will become part of my everyday routine and soon, like brushing my teeth every day, it will become part of the normal daily routine. This is already noticeable now. While last week I had to think carefully about every click and every stretch, today I can already feel the muscle quite well. If necessary, I can readjust something and stretch more specifically and thus release the tension in the muscle. So I notice a learning process in myself. The processes are becoming more effective every day.
Dr. A. Becker
That pleases me. Is there anything you would like to say to people interested in leg lengthening? For example, when it comes to preparing for leg lengthening, where can those interested go or what can you recommend in retrospect?
Patient
So I would definitely get a realistic picture before leg lengthening. I would like to thank you Dr. Get advice from Becker because you painted a realistic picture for me. You made it clear to me that it would be exhausting and, above all, you didn’t sugarcoat anything. As a runner, I find the time it takes to lengthen my legs to be comparable to a marathon. The leg lengthening process takes a lot of time, is painful, requires discipline and you really have to want it. Then you get through it. Everyone should realize that leg lengthening is not a walk that you just do casually. For me personally, the exchange with you Dr. Becker is very important. Especially now, after the operation. Sometimes you have to set aside your expectations of being able to achieve something very quickly. I’m thinking about the extension period, some things just take time. In any case, you should be well prepared before making this decision. Sure, the operation is carried out perfectly, but you have to manage the journey afterwards yourself. Even if you and your team provide really great support.
Dr. A. Becker
Yes, that’s right. Another thing to note from my side. It is important that we only discharge patients if certain things are met. It is important that patients cope well with the pain. We offer painkillers and muscle relaxation products as well as thrombosis prophylaxis. Another point is that patients must be mobile, able to walk up stairs, ride a bike and be able to do stretching exercises independently. And the last very important point, the clicking process must work perfectly. All of this went extremely well for you, which is why you were able to be discharged from the hospital earlier.
I thank you very much for your openness and for the conversation.
