A TIKTOK doctor has claimed he can stretch people’s limbs to make them 5.6 inches taller – for close to £60,000.
Doctor Shahab Mahboubian uses “magnetic nails” to perform height-lengthening surgery, which he has been practising for over ten years.
Doctor Shahab Mahboubian helps to stretch people’s limbs at his clinic in CaliforniaCredit: Jam Press
The 45-year-old, who lives in California charges patients £56,000 ($75,000) for lengthening of femurs and £61,000 ($85,000) for lengthening of tibias.
Those who want maximum results could shell out a whopping £112,000 ($155,000) to have their bones “cut” through.
The orthopaedic surgeon highlights that it will take three to four months for patients to walk unassisted and six to eight months after surgery until they can take part in sports.
Dr Mahboubian explained: “For the past few years, I have been able to not only make people taller and walk normally, but I have also been able to raise patients’ confidence and help them achieve their lifelong goals.
“Many people have always dreamt of being taller and I feel humbled to be able to permanently make people taller.”
Dr Mahboubian performs between 30 and 40 procedures a year at his practice, the Height Lengthening Institute in Burbank.
The procedures have helped him to attract 28,000 followers on TikTok.
In one video, Dr Mahboubian shares a patient’s recovery after surgery.
The man was 5’5” and is on track to be 5’8”.
Dr Mahboubian is pictured above with two different clients that he has helpedCredit: Jam Press
Dr Mahboubian explained that he had to make tiny incisions because it is a “minimally invasive procedure”.
He added: “He’s healing really nicely, there’s not as much swelling, that’s what we check for on these visits.
“He’s able to move his leg. That’s pretty good for a week after surgery, excellent.”
The video has been viewed over 6.8 million times and has received over 794,000 likes and 19,000 comments.
Social media users have claimed that the procedure should be normalised like other procedures such as the Brazilian butt lift.
Another user joked that “men will literally do anything but go to therapy.”
Dr Mahboubian said that many people are shocked that the procedure even exists.
The medic uses a nail with a magnetic device which is inserted into the patientCredit: Jam Press
“Many people didn’t know it is possible to permanently get up to 5.6 inches taller!
“The first step in limb-lengthening surgery is to make a small incision just above the hip (for femurs) or at the knee (for tibias) and then surgically cut through the width of the bone to be lengthened.
“Once the bone has been cut into two sections, the adjustable ‘nail’ (Stryde Precice nail) is fitted inside the centre of the bone and secured with locking screws.
“There is a magnetic device inside the nail”, he said.
He said the next phase of the procedure can take several weeks to months to complete.
Dr Mahboubian explained: “It is called the distraction phase because the cut bone is gently pulled apart using an ERC device to gain about 1mm a day.
“The magnet on the ERC device turns which communicates with the nail inside the bone, and there’s gears inside the nail which makes your bone lengthen.”
A year after the lengthening process, patients return to have the nails removed and Dr Mahboubian said over time, the body creates new bone tissue to fill the gap in until the desired height is reached.
He added: “Most candidates are able to increase their height up to 8 cm (3.1 inches) with one lengthening procedure (usually femurs) without any issues.
The image above shows a patient after having had the life changing surgeryCredit: Jam Press
“Additional lengthening of the tibias can be performed to increase height by an additional 6.5 cm (2.5 inches).
“The precise nail can withstand up to 75lbs of weight bearing on each side, and you will need to use a walker for up to four months until your bone has healed.
“You can go back to your full athletic capability a year after you undergo the procedure – it’s vital that you are flexible before surgery and do the proper physical therapy after surgery.
“The new bone that forms is actually stronger than your natural bone!”
