# I've heard of limb lengthening surgery, and now there's limb SHORTENING surgery? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 13, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515 "2024-05-13T21:31:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/1 "2024-05-13T21:31:56Z")
The lengthening surgery is usually used for people who, due to accident or disease, have limbs, usually legs, of uneven length, and it’s time-consuming and very painful. Now, I’m seeing online chatter about limb-shortening surgery, apparently done mostly on tall men who are undergoing M-to-F gender reassignment. Has anyone else heard of this, or knows of a doctor who will do it? I just can’t imagine the logistics of shortening a bone in the midst of all the muscles, tendons, blood vessels, nerves, etc. in that limb. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/2 "2024-05-13T21:47:50Z")
Looking at a couple of web sites, it looks like they can only take off a couple of inches. That’s small enough that all of the connections can readjust. (You don’t want slack in your muscles or anything). > **[One Leg Is Longer Than The Other Leg Length Discrepancy Treatment](https://www.reachyourheight.com/limb-lengthening-surgery-treatment-options/surgical-treatment-bone-shortening/)** > > If one leg is longer than the other, the leg length discrepancy can be corrected by shortening the longer leg. Bone shortening is usually limited to those who have finished growing. > **[Services of Ladisten Clinic of Modern Orthopedics and Traumatology](https://ladisten.com/en/services/operatsiya-po-umensheniyu-rosta/)** > > Services of Ladisten Clinic ☑️ Unique method of treatment of Veklich V.V. ⭐ Patient reviews ✍️ Online consultations! ☎ +38(067) 794-46-86 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/3 "2024-05-17T03:39:59Z")
I have a feeling that the Ladisten Clinic is busy doing other orthopedic treatments right now. They’re located in Kyiv. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/4 "2024-05-17T03:47:51Z")
My second toes, it would only be a sliver or two. I’m afraid the pain would be similar to just chopping the dang thang off. Nope. Guess I’ll keep 'em. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/5 "2024-05-17T13:30:32Z")
Mmmmm… shortening. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2024, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/6 "2024-05-17T13:45:08Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > shortening Limb lard? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/7 "2024-05-19T07:51:53Z")
It’s not new. I remember one story about it from decades ago, pre-Internet. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/8 "2024-05-19T13:22:06Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > Limb lard? Okay, I’ll bite: I am not familiar with this term; please allay my ignorance. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/9 "2024-05-19T13:50:19Z")
Shortening is a solid vegetable oil, an alternative to solid animal fats like lard. I took your comment to be a joking reference to the food product and was inspired to respond in kind, but also pointing back to the original topic (“limb shortening”). ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2024, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ive-heard-of-limb-lengthening-surgery-and-now-theres-limb-shortening-surgery/1001515/10 "2024-05-19T14:18:23Z")
You are 100% correct on all counts; I was channeling Homer Simpson (who ate a ten pound bag of flour once) when it occurred to me that “limb lard” might be a slang term the “youngsters” use. Further investigation revealed this to be incorrect — I thought I saw a term meaning “a fat person waddling past a bakery,” but couldn’t find it again and it makes no sense anyway. I’m dropping the matter but remaining vigilant.