This is a cliff note version of how to choose a doctor for Limb Lengthening, written with input from current and former patients.
1) Get Prepared - Evaluate Your Situation Realistically
Financially - Do you have the money? Decide how much are you willing to spend as there are doctors who will do the surgery for a wide range of prices, depending on location and quality of service provided.
Time - Are you able to take time off from work, school and relationships? If going overseas, you will be in a foreign country for months.
Social Life - You will be required to use crutches for support for months, are you ready to explain what happened and plan how you will move around?
Physical - How strong and fit is your body and mind to undergo the trauma and stress of the process? If you are old, fragile, severely overweight or ill, then this process will be even harder to recover from. Having a good level of fitness training beforehand will help you recover faster and better from the surgery than living a sedentary lifestyle.
2) Get Informed - Research & Consultation
Once you have figured out and prepared yourself, it's time to find out which Limb Lengthening doctor will works best for you. Here's a few important things to do
- Study the pros and cons of each Limb Lengthening methods
From external to LON/LATN to Internal methods, there are differences in each methods and you must know which options are available before choosing between them
- Visit the Doctors for consultation
Have a list of doctors you are potentially interested in and visit them in person for consultation. Evaluate them from their body language, tone and how they answer your questions about Limb Lengthening. Request a tour of the facility if possible.
- Speak to ex and current patients & staff members
You may find out more about the doctors by speaking to staff members who are working under them and those that have underwent the process. You should speak to multiple sources and verify the overall feedback about the doctors.
3) Get Going - It's Time
With preparation, evaluation and research done, you are now ready to make a final commitment to a process which will cost you alot of money, time and pain. At this point, you may even decide Limb Lengthening is not for you, and that's okay. Or you may decide Limb Lengthening is exactly what you want.
Remember, this is your own independent decision and the ultimate responsibility and power to decide lies in you.