Some taller women are reportedly turning to painful limb-shortening procedures in order to improve their chances of finding a suitable romantic partner.
In a time when leg-lengthening surgeries are becoming increasingly popular among height-challenged men. Women are apparently doing the opposite, going under the knife to shorten their height to increase their chances of finding a partner. More and more clinics in Istanbul, Turkey, are offering this controversial procedure as part of attractive packages that include hospitalization, as well as free city tours, restaurant meals, and even boat trips. Originally designed for medical purposes, to correct limb length imbalance, limb-shortening surgery has allegedly become popular among women who believe a petite stature is more desirable.
Osteoshortening surgery involves cutting the patient’s leg bone, removing part of the femur, and then fixing the bones together with metal rods. Turkish doctors claim they can shorten the thigh by up to 5.5 cm and the calf by up to 3 cm, but experts say that those interested in the procedure should expect excruciating pain, a long recovery period, and potentially irreversible nerve damage that can lead to muscle weakness and loss of function. Infection, delayed bone healing, and even bone nonunion (a fracture that fails to heal) can also occur. Because the metal rods inserted into the patients’ bones have a weight limit, patients undergoing osteoshortening should weigh between 70 and 75 kg.
Despite the serious risks involved in limb shortening surgery, data shows that an increasing number of women are undergoing the procedure for cosmetic purposes and to increase their chances of finding a romantic partner. Some are convinced that being tall lowers their chances of finding love, because men feel awkward with someone taller than them. Just one hospital in Istanbul told British tabloid Mail Online that it had performed 10 leg-shortening surgeries since 2023.
For more controversial cosmetic procedures, check out shoulder straightening fillers and eye color-changing surgery.
