A 5ft 1in woman desperate to be taller has had her dream fulfilled by undergoing a drastic £50,000 leg lengthening surgery to gain 8.2cm in height.
Angelina Tran, 33, had been saving up to swap her Toyota Corolla for a Tesla, but decided to invest in her body instead. Despite her family and friends urging her not to have the risky procedure, she travelled to Turkey to have it done in September this year.
In just two months, nurse Angelina went from 5ft 1in (157 centimetres) to 5ft 4in (165 centimetres), the average height for a woman in the UK. Her dreams of being taller began when she was just a child.
Angelina, from California, said: “It was when I was 11 or 12 when I noticed I had stopped growing. Being Asian, I am genetically small, and when I moved from Vietnam to America aged 12, I was suddenly surrounded by tall women everywhere.
“I went out and bought vitamins and medicines in the hope they would boost my height a bit, but of course they didn’t work. At home, everyone my age was around my height or just shorter, but living in the US, I was surrounded by people towering over me.
“It was the same on social media with endless photos of tall women with long legs. I wished I had their height. All I could do was wear the highest heels I could walk in. I didn’t own a single pair of flat shoes.”
When Angelina returned to Vietnam aged 19, she expected to at least still be taller than her cousin of the same age, but she was in for a surprise.
“My cousin and I loved a bit of friendly competition,” she said. “We were always joking who would go to the better college or have the better career. So, when I was 19 and saw her after a year apart, I noticed how much taller she was than me.
“It surprised me and affected my self-esteem. I was at the age where you start worrying about your appearance, so it became a bigger issue in my mind.”
That’s when Angelina started researching leg lengthening surgery. “I looked online and began reading up about the process. At the time, there was only the old method which looked extremely painful, left you bedridden for months and badly scarred. It seemed so scary that it put me off and I decided to try and accept myself for the way I was.”
Leg lengthening surgery taps into your body’s natural ability to grow new bone, giving you a way to increase your height. The surgeon performs an osteotomy, carefully cutting the bone to be lengthened, and utilises external or internal fixation devices for gradual extension.
It wasn’t until two years ago when Angelina heard of a Vietnamese Youtuber having the surgery that she became interested again. “I started following his progress and it got me curious about having the operation again,” she said. “By this point I had been working as a nurse for eight years, dealing with orthopaedic patients and working in the surgical unit, so the prospect of being operated on didn’t seem so scary anymore.
“I had experience preparing for surgery and dealing with patients post-surgery. I was sure I could handle it. Especially as there was newer and more advanced technology. I was also so fed up having to get all my clothes altered, to make them short enough to fit me.
“I didn’t even want to change my height to help me with dating or to find a partner, I just wanted to do it for me. I wanted to be happier and content with how I looked.”
But when Angelina flew to Istanbul in Turkey in September, she was apprehensive. “I was really nervous so I asked the doctor lots of questions. I had an X-ray and blood tests done, then was scheduled for the surgery.”
Angelina chose Dr. Yuksel Yurttas to perform her surgery, an orthopaedic surgeon and limb lengthening specialist. “Originally, I had planned to have external and internal fixators but at the last minute, one hour before surgery, I decided to pay more for a revolutionary process so I wouldn’t have such bad scarring. I wanted to feel confident showing my new legs off after all!”
Angelina opted for an advanced procedure called The Precice 2 system – double the price of the better-known LON method. The Precice method involves small incisions, leading to minimal scarring, and lengthens the bones using an external remote control, avoiding the need for external fixators that need to be cranked until the legs grow longer.
“For years I had been working hard and saving up so I could swap my Toyota Corolla for a Tesla, but in the end I decided it was better to invest in my body rather than a car,” she said.
“My family and friends thought I was mad. They were really against me having the procedure done and urged me not to go ahead with it, because it was so risky.
“I knew it was a big deal. It would mean months off work, plus post-op care and rehabilitation, and there was the risk of long-term effects on my mobility and function. Not to mention the pain and discomfort. But for me, it would all be worth it to be that bit taller.”
Limb lengthening surgery requires bones to be precisely cut, meaning pain is an inevitable part of the procedure. Dr Yurttas’ data reveals that over the last three years, 77.13% of people interested in leg lengthening surgery were men – and their patient number reveals just 2/10 are female.
Angelina said: “I am one of the few women to get it done and talk so openly about it. With many other women preferring to keep it a secret.”
Angelina was put to sleep for the two-hour operation. “I woke up feeling scared and saw my legs were all swollen. I couldn’t move. It was scary because I was used to being the nurse and now I was the patient. After the medication had worn off, I realised I have a very low pain threshold.
“I rested until day five when I took my first steps with a walker, supported by nurses. It was really hard work. The next few days were focused on controlled exercises, where I engaged in light activities such as bed exercises and short walks within the hospital.
“Five days after my operation, the healthcare professionals taught me the daily leg lengthening routine that I would follow. Because I’d opted for the method without external fixators, I was given a remote control to use 3-4 times a day that works with a magnet to pull the bones apart and lengthen my legs.
“It was incredibly painful and I was experiencing a new kind of pain every day, but knowing my legs were growing 1mm each day kept me going. I cried all the time during physiotherapy though, so much that I was nicknamed ‘drama queen’!”
Finally, after 12 weeks in Turkey, Angelina returned home on the 23rd November. “Now I just have to keep up with my exercises. I’m so happy I got the surgery done. It was worth the pain – and the money – to be the height I always dreamed of being.”
The £50k cost included pre-operative tests and examinations, the surgery, accommodation and aftercare. “All my friends and family who tried to talk me out of the surgery are now really supportive because they are relieved that I’m okay. It’s been a crazy journey and it’s not finished yet.
“I am only halfway and still have a long way to go to finish the process as my newly formed bones start to harden and heal. I’m currently switching between using a walker and crutches, and will gradually increase weight-bearing activities, transitioning from crutches to unassisted walking.”
Within 2-8 weeks, Angelina should be able to walk normally, return to work, and perform daily tasks. Six months after surgery, she can resume most physical activities, such as long walks, swimming or cycling. The full recovery period can last up to 12 months.
“My confidence has been given had a massive boost. When I see a picture of how I look now compared to before, I know all the pain and sleepless nights have been worth it. I love showing off my new, longer legs – they are much better than a Tesla!”
Dr Yurtass said: “Angelina made a bold and life-changing decision to undergo limb-lengthening surgery. This is not an easy choice as it takes courage, determination, and a willingness to commit to the process. Angelina showed all of these from the start.
“This surgery is a challenging journey, both physically and mentally, but it can really change lives when done right. Angelina’s dedication, cooperation, and trust in the process made all the difference, and we’re proud to have been part of her story.”
