Recently released ‘Materialists’ starring Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal, left many viewers wondering about the ‘limb lengthening’ procedure that Harry (Pedro Pascal) underwent to increase his height.

But is it possible to increase one’s height by a few inches? Yes, the ‘limb lengthening’ surgery is very much true.

What is the ‘limb-lengthening’ procedure all about?

Limb lengthening surgery is a procedure in which surgeons can lengthen a bone in an arm or leg. The procedure can also treat certain conditions that cause irregularities in bone growth or bone shortening.

As per the Cleveland Clinic, surgeons may perform limb lengthening surgery on the humerus (upper arm bone), radius/ulna (forearm bones), femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone).

Before one decides to get the surgery done, they would be asked to take the X-rays of their bone to measure it.

Limb lengthening surgery for an individual involves two main steps:

a) The surgeon performs an osteotomy, cutting the affected bone into two segments.

b) The surgeon attaches a limb lengthening device to the two segments of bone.

Osteotomy is a procedure where the expert cuts and reshapes a bone to correct deformities, improve alignment, or for any other need that requires to relieve pressure on a joint.

As per the International Centre for Limb Lengthening, the total recommended lengthening is 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) in the thigh bone (femur).

After healing from the surgery, the patient moves to the bone distraction phase where the two bone segments begin to pull apart and as they separate, the body creates new bone to fill the gap.

During this period, the patient needs to attend physical therapy and take regular check-ups to understand the progress of the new bone growth in order to adjust the treatment protocols.

The procedure comes with its risks and benefits, hence, it is advised to visit an expert in the field to make an informed decision.