A real story, documented as it happens.

I'm becoming
3 inches taller.
Here's why, and what
it actually involves.

Surgery: January 2027

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Read My Story

Personal documentation, not medical advice. I'm preoperative, I'm not a doctor, and I have no relationship with any clinic or device company.

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My Story

Six years of something that never really went away.

My name's Milo. I'm 21, and I work as a stock trader. I've been insecure about my height since I was around 15, and it wasn't one moment, it built up slowly over the years.

I want to say this clearly. There's nothing wrong with being 166cm. Millions of men are that height and are completely fine with it. This isn't an argument that anyone else should feel the way I do, or that surgery is the right call for them. It's just how I feel about my own body.

I've tried a lot to make that feeling go away: therapy, shoe lifts, working on how I look and carry myself. Some of it helped. None of it made the feeling disappear.

I'm not doing this because I hate myself. I'm doing it because after six years, I've accepted this isn't going away on its own.

166cm to 174cm. That's the plan.

Read the full story →
The Plan

166cm to 174cm.
The projected difference.

A simulation of the target. Surgery hasn't happened yet, this isn't a real result.

Simulated, not a real result A simulated projection comparing current height (5'5.5") to the planned post-surgery height (5'9"). Not an actual postoperative photo.

📁 Add images/before-after.jpg
to show your comparison photo here.

This shows the planned 8cm target, not a confirmed outcome. My actual result after surgery and recovery may differ.

Curious how you'd look?

Upload your own photo and try the same simulation. Nothing is ever uploaded anywhere, it all happens on your device.

Try It On Your Own Photo
The Science

How this actually works.

Not magic. Just biology, on a schedule.

AI-generated illustration Illustration of an intact femur Illustration of a femur after the osteotomy cut Illustration of a femur with the PRECICE nail inserted Illustration of a femur mid-distraction, new bone forming in the gap Illustration of a femur in consolidation, new bone hardening Illustration of a fully healed, elongated femur

01 · Intact Femur

Illustration of an intact femur 01

The femur

The femur is the longest bone in your body. It's also the one that gets lengthened.

It can typically be extended several centimeters. How that affects walking varies from person to person, but for most people it doesn't change much long term.

Illustration of a femur after the osteotomy cut 02

The cut

A surgeon makes a precise, controlled cut through the bone.

It's a real surgery, not something to downplay, but it's controlled and precise. Breaking the bone this way is exactly what triggers your body to grow new one.

Illustration of a femur with the PRECICE nail inserted 03

The nail

A small motorized titanium rod goes inside the bone canal. It's called a PRECICE nail.

It's locked in place with screws above and below the cut. This is what actually does the lengthening.

Illustration of a femur mid-distraction, new bone forming in the gap 04

Distraction

A remote held against your leg tells the nail to turn slightly and pull the two pieces of bone apart.

About 1mm a day. Your body fills that gap with new bone as it happens.

Illustration of a femur in consolidation, new bone hardening 05

Consolidation

Once you hit the target length, the lengthening stops.

The new bone needs time to harden, usually a few months. Physical therapy keeps everything else moving normally.

Illustration of a fully healed, elongated femur 06

Healed

Eventually the nail comes out and the bone is just bone again. Indistinguishable from the rest of your leg.

Most people eventually get back to running, lifting, whatever they were doing before, though timelines and results vary a lot from person to person.

AI-generated illustrations.

Prefer to watch it play out? Official PRECICE surgical animation.

Sources: HSS patient guide · FDA letter to health care providers

Real Questions

Things people actually ask me.

Real questions from comments and DMs. These are my actual answers.

So wait, you'll never walk normal again after this?

Recovery varies a lot from person to person, but most people walk through the whole process and get back to full activity after everything heals. Physical therapy is part of it, and it's a real recovery, not an easy one. "Never walk again" isn't accurate for the vast majority of cases.

Isn't this how people end up with that weird disproportionate look?

It's possible if you push things too far, but most of the time, no. Human proportions vary a lot naturally, so what looks balanced is different for everyone. That's why it's best to discuss your goals with your surgeon.

You're really spending that much money to still be short?

3 inches moves me from below average to average. The cost is real, and so is what it's worth to me after trying everything else. It's a personal decision, not vanity.

Have you tried just accepting yourself? Therapy helps with this stuff.

I did the therapy. It helped with a lot of things. This one just didn't go away, and choosing a medical option that works isn't a sign of weakness.

Doesn't recovery take like years?

Modern nail technology has cut that down a lot. Most people are back to work in months and full sports within a year, but the lengthening and healing phases still take real time and real physical therapy.

Isn't this experimental and kind of dangerous?

It's been done for decades, evolved out of orthopedic surgery for bone defects, and the implant I'm using is FDA cleared. Like any surgery it carries real risk (infection, nerve issues, delayed healing), which is why the surgeon you pick actually matters.

Sources: HSS patient guide · FDA letter to health care providers. General information, not a substitute for your own surgeon's advice.

The Journey

Where I am. Where I'm going.

Latest Update

Jul 4, 2026

Building this page and documenting the research phase before surgery. First real progress update is coming soon, so follow along on Instagram if you don't want to miss it.

In progress

Now, pre surgery

Research, documentation, building community. Sharing what I've learned so others don't have to start from zero.

Planned

January 2027, surgery

Osteotomy + PRECICE nail insertion. I'll document the lead-up, the prep, and the day itself.

Estimated

Distraction Phase (~80 days)

1mm per day. Daily updates. What it feels like, what's actually happening inside the bone.

Estimated

Consolidation (3–6 months)

The new bone hardens. PT begins in earnest. I'll show the real recovery, not just the highlight reel.

Estimated

Nail Removal + Full Recovery

Back to full activity. The final reveal. 166cm → 174cm, documented start to finish.

Dates and durations are estimates based on typical cases. Mine may end up different, and I'll update this if the plan changes.

1:1

Want to talk it through?

Happy to answer real questions, about the surgery, the research, or anything else on your mind.

If you're considering this yourself, or just curious about any of it, I'll get on a call and walk through what I've learned. No script, just an honest conversation.

See Pricing & Book a Call
Don't Miss It

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the day of surgery.

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in real time.

Every update, every milestone, documented honestly on Instagram.

@pyranthos_ on Instagram