Limb Lengthening Forum

Limb Lengthening Surgery => Limb Lengthening Patients Experiences => Topic started by: Activatedxx on January 24, 2021, 01:05:08 PM

Title: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 24, 2021, 01:05:08 PM
After postponing for years I have finally booked my appointment for April 2021 to do external Tibia 5-6cm (max) with dr Kulesh and Solomin. I lost my old account info but I’ve been on this forum for about 3-4 years.

I pulled the trigger one day and started planning and working toward it and told myself not to turn back on it. Can’t really believe I’m doing this, I was always serious about having LL done but actual going through the process I am barely holding myself from turning back. I already submitted me and my wife’s passport application ( she knows about this choice, told me she does not care at all about my height and did not want me going through with it, we are both 167cm). Everything in my life is going great, I have an exotic, I’m married to a beautiful person inside and out, I have attractive features, I have a decently successful business (with covid I make about half profit what I used to make before covid but still doing ok). Height is honestly the only thing really bothering me in life, of course life isn’t perfect and there are always other things but besides height those things are not that significant.

I am a 167cm 23 year old male from Florida. I have about 60k cash usd saved to my name. Originally, I was thinking about doing LON femur but told myself to just start off with tibia and do precise/stride  the next year and just pay for it. This lengthening should not cost more than 12-15k usd for everything. Kulesh offers it at 4 different hospitals, One of them is double the price as the one I chose but I really don’t see that much difference in them besides that they are placed in a higher end area and the doctors speak English, and also the expensive one is a private clinic while the other is municipal.

 Russia airbnb is about 500$ a month/4 star hotels 600-750$ a month. The airbnb is really nice. Going to a foreign country is pretty cool, I had a somewhat bad view of russian safety but online it says St. Petersburg is safe aside from pickpockets.


An important note, I have slightly moderate bowed legs, it never affected me much and I’m very active, but I hope to correct this also, I wonder if this will add 1-2cm


I’m trying to prepare as best as I can. A plus for me is that I will have someone to help me and take care of me during this process. Lengthening alone must be super mentally boring and emotionally challenging.

I have a million cautions running in my head, like what if my kidney is stolen, or if the anesthesiologist hurts me, or how am I going to react to a catheter. Solomin/kulesh seem good in the forum  except for Android who had nerve damage but that probably was due to a risky method he used whatever happened to him? and also I believe he did 1.5mm a day? For femurs

An advantage I might have is that I used to wrestle in high school and run track, however after high school I sadly did pick up vaping/smoking hookah which I quit a couple months ago as it is bad for healing/bone consolidation. I am light but lean and muscular and plan on doing some heavy leg workouts before this surgery to aid with atrophy/stretching.


Please comment any advice, thoughts, etc


If all goes well, hopefully next year I will do internal femurs with giotikas or parihar since precise/stride isn’t certified in Russia by the government so they don’t allow it

Currently at 167cm, 6-7cm (considering bow leg correction added to lengthening) I will still be short but only by 1.5-2’ to the average  in the us. At my height I’m in like the bottom 5-10 percentile, being 5’7 1/2 or 5’8 is really not that bad. Sure, it would be a lot better / great to be 8cm on top of that which is why I plan on going for femurs after, but even At my height with 1’inch lifts I have been able to accomplish a lot in life and also have had very attractive girlfriends even with my height in the past, which is why my height neurosis isn’t mentallly damaging to me as much, it’s not obsessive, but it is an insecurity I want to improve.


Edited* Reason I chose Russia 1: LL originated here 2:USD is strong against ruble, surgery and hotels are cheap (the price) 3: the experience of kulesh and Solomin

Obviously best choice would be paley since he’s 3hr drive from me or USA, but not everyone has 100k+ to blow
This hotel is 600$ a month, deciding between this and a very nice airbnb I saw
https://www.google.com/travel/hotels/Saint%20Petersburg/entity/ChkI7b--46-b_JsUGg0vZy8xMWMya3pkOV93EAE?g2lb=2502548%2C4258168%2C4306835%2C4317915%2C4328159%2C4371334%2C4401769%2C4416724%2C4419364%2C4463263%2C4463666%2C4464463%2C4481897%2C4482194%2C4482438%2C4485851%2C4491875%2C4270859%2C4284970&hl=en-US&gl=us&un=1&ap=MAFaAGgA&q=hotels%20in%20st%20petersburg%20russia&rp=ogEVU3QgUGV0ZXJzYnVyZywgUnVzc2lhOAFAAEgC&ictx=1&utm_campaign=sharing&utm_medium=link&utm_source=htls&hrf=CgQIPBAAEgIIGiIDVVNEKhYKBwjlDxAEGAESBwjlDxAEGA8YDiABsAEAWAFoAZoBFxIVU3QgUGV0ZXJzYnVyZywgUnVzc2lhogEcCggvbS8wNnByNhIQU2FpbnQgUGV0ZXJzYnVyZ6oBEwoCCCESAggVEgIILxIDCJECGAGqAQoKAggSEgIIaBgBqgEHCgMIoQIYAKoBDgoCCBwSAghzEgIINhgBqgEaCgIIERICCCoSAghAEgIIOBICCFcSAggrGAGqAQ8KAgguEgIIVhIDCIMBGAGqAQ8KAghQEgMIhAESAghMGAGSAQIgAQ&ved=0CAAQ5JsGahcKEwj459ek77TuAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCA
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Limbfan2020 on January 24, 2021, 01:34:48 PM
Why didn't you chose Dr. Paley?He's next door to you. Is it just because of the price?

Good luck with your lenghtening
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: ghkid2019 on January 24, 2021, 01:38:47 PM
fully externals or LON?

@limbfan2020 paley costs 100k + more for lodging and food and etc. this man has 60k.

android is slowly recovering. he definitely can walk decent and is mobile but its just his feet does not have full ankle movement yet. you can see his recovery on his instagram android_cll

and good luck it seems you decided yourself on going to russia so i hope you have a good trip and journey
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 24, 2021, 01:58:44 PM
Why didn't you chose Dr. Paley?He's next door to you. Is it just because of the price?

Good luck with your lenghtening


Of course. lol I don’t have 100k and if I did I probably wouldn’t give it all up for one surgery. Paley is like a 3 hour drive from me, sadly he doesn’t even offer any type of financing. Even if he took care credit they won’t approve me for more than 20-30k. If I do externals and then Stryde with mahboubian or parihar/buldu and end up paying 60-85k for 4.5-5inches of height that’s a fair enough trade off for me, paying 100k+100k for 5 inches is a little out the question. It took me about 3 years to save up 60k with my expenses (apartment, car note, etc). I wouldn’t even mind just getting tibias out the way and then financing/paying for femurs with mahboubian.

Of course some people might suggest  “it’s your legs choose the best surgeon getting crippled isnt worth money saved” I would partially agree, but there are many other very experienced surgeons who might not be as good as paley but the results are the same/similar. I chose Solomin/kulesh because 1. They don’t really care to promote cll, so I don’t think it’s a money thing to them 2. Experience, not to mention LL originated from Russia/discovered in Russia 3. USD is strong against the ruble , so everything is Russia is cheap in usd, like food and hotel etc.

Of course I’d be way more comfortable doing this at home, but then again life isn’t at your convenience, gotta work with what ya can.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 24, 2021, 02:01:48 PM
fully externals or LON?

paley costs 100k + more for lodging and food and etc. this man has 60k.

android is slowly recovering. he definitely can walk decent and is mobile but its just his feet does not have full ankle movement yet. you can see his recovery on his instagram android_cll

and good luck it seems you decided yourself on going to russia so i hope you have a good trip and journey

Thank you

I don’t want to do LON because I don’t like the idea of having a nail drilled through my knee and having to have it removed. For femurs I guess nails is the way to go but Solomin recommends fully external for tibia. If it is really inconvenient I may do LATN

Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: ghkid2019 on January 24, 2021, 02:19:24 PM
Thank you

I don’t want to do LON because I don’t like the idea of having a nail drilled through my knee and having to have it removed. For femurs I guess nails is the way to go but Solomin recommends fully external for tibia. If it is really inconvenient I may do LATN
Hopefully you're okay with 8-10 months in frames for 5cm then. I think most diaries of externals I read have the person regretted not doing LON, simply because externals is wayy too long. Hopefully you are prepared for the long year you have upcoming. In the end it is the safest and best long term way to do LL. Just ridiculously long. Expect frames off in February 2022
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 24, 2021, 02:51:18 PM
Hopefully you're okay with 8-10 months in frames for 5cm then. I think most diaries of externals I read have the person regretted not doing LON, simply because externals is wayy too long. Hopefully you are prepared for the long year you have upcoming. In the end it is the safest and best long term way to do LL. Just ridiculously long. Expect frames off in February 2022

I cannot do LON because I have slightly moderate bowed legs I would like to correct while lengthening.  With Lengthening over Nail it is fixed so no correction can be made. My knees do not touch and my knees point slightly inward when standing feet straight with my ankles touching. I may do lengthening and then nailing (latn).

Bow legs causes arthritis and risk of knee problems as you get older, if you are physically active or overweight it increases the risk of knee replacement or knee pain etc

I’ve read that correcting bowed legs will increase your height 1-3cm depending on severity. I really don’t care realistically for 1cm but anything counts/better than nothing  I guess

If I am for 5cm and get an extra 1-2cm  from correction would be pretty cool

When I actually start my diary I will post pics of my bowed legs before the surgery
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: ghkid2019 on January 24, 2021, 04:01:21 PM
Oh, I see. Then I guess LATN would be a great compromise, nailing after the correction. And good luck with your bowlegs. It's good to fix that problem and potentially gain some height. Free money right there


Thanks for photos
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: California2 on January 27, 2021, 09:00:52 PM
Good luck to you.  My experience was wonderful.

I too have a slight bowed leg that I would have corrected if I had more time to be in frames but life forces choices and time won.

Feel free to read my diary if you want additional information: http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=9660.msg100789#msg100789 (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=9660.msg100789#msg100789)

Best of luck.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on January 27, 2021, 11:41:52 PM
Hi activatedxx, well done on making the decision and good luck in April.

Could I ask about your bow leg issue? I too have bow legs - not extreme, but noticeable (and I'm always getting nutmegged when playing soccer, lol). I'm quite active, in my 30s, enjoy lifting weights, and I've been noticing some knee pain which I agree could be worsened due to knee misalignment caused by the bowed tibias.

I imagine you have already raised this matter with Drs Kulesh and Solomin? Could you possibly elaborate? Can the straightening be done in the initial surgery? Is it done during the lengthening process? And would it lengthen the overall process of LATN? I would be happy with straightened legs plus 4cm increase. At 0.75mm per day that would work out at approximately 2 months of lengthening before having the LATN nail inserted. Would it be necessary to wait longer, or do anything different, if bowleg correction is involved as well?

Many thanks again for your kind contributions
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 28, 2021, 01:30:16 AM
Good luck to you.  My experience was wonderful.

I too have a slight bowed leg that I would have corrected if I had more time to be in frames but life forces choices and time won.

Feel free to read my diary if you want additional information: http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=9660.msg100789#msg100789 (http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=9660.msg100789#msg100789)

Best of luck.


Thanks a lot for your reply, i want to ask where did you get your visa for Russia. I’m trying to figure out how to get an invitation letter
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 28, 2021, 01:32:57 AM
Hi activatedxx, well done on making the decision and good luck in April.

Could I ask about your bow leg issue? I too have bow legs - not extreme, but noticeable (and I'm always getting nutmegged when playing soccer, lol). I'm quite active, in my 30s, enjoy lifting weights, and I've been noticing some knee pain which I agree could be worsened due to knee misalignment caused by the bowed tibias.

I imagine you have already raised this matter with Drs Kulesh and Solomin? Could you possibly elaborate? Can the straightening be done in the initial surgery? Is it done during the lengthening process? And would it lengthen the overall process of LATN? I would be happy with straightened legs plus 4cm increase. At 0.75mm per day that would work out at approximately 2 months of lengthening before having the LATN nail inserted. Would it be necessary to wait longer, or do anything different, if bowleg correction is involved as well?

Many thanks again for your kind contributions


I think you have to bring it up in person, they reply very shortly and don’t answer all your questions. I’m sure they’re busy or whatever it is. On there website it says they do fix it

But honestly it’s free to fix if you are covered by health insurance, it causes knee problems as you get older

If you are worried about knee pain I would go with full externals, it is the safest according to what I’ve read just more inconvenient but way less invasive
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: permanentlybanned on January 28, 2021, 05:42:11 AM
Hi activatedxx, well done on making the decision and good luck in April.

Could I ask about your bow leg issue? I too have bow legs - not extreme, but noticeable (and I'm always getting nutmegged when playing soccer, lol). I'm quite active, in my 30s, enjoy lifting weights, and I've been noticing some knee pain which I agree could be worsened due to knee misalignment caused by the bowed tibias.

I imagine you have already raised this matter with Drs Kulesh and Solomin? Could you possibly elaborate? Can the straightening be done in the initial surgery? Is it done during the lengthening process? And would it lengthen the overall process of LATN? I would be happy with straightened legs plus 4cm increase. At 0.75mm per day that would work out at approximately 2 months of lengthening before having the LATN nail inserted. Would it be necessary to wait longer, or do anything different, if bowleg correction is involved as well?

Many thanks again for your kind contributions

bowlegs only take a matter of days to fix depending on severity it can even be as short as 1 or 2 days if really minor
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 28, 2021, 07:57:21 AM
bowlegs only take a matter of days to fix depending on severity it can even be as short as 1 or 2 days if really minor

Not sure how severe, I can fit 3 fingers between knee to knee with my legs closed
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on January 28, 2021, 08:25:57 PM
Hi activatedxx, have you already spoken in detail to Drs Kulesh and Solomin about the bow leg correction? I'm interested to know how much extra time and trouble it will take on top of the lengthening. It sounds like you have a fairly similar situation: my bow legs are not extreme but I can fit four fingers in between my knees when standing with my feet together. It would be a double whammy to fix this and gain 4 or 5cm too.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 28, 2021, 09:19:17 PM
Hi activatedxx, have you already spoken in detail to Drs Kulesh and Solomin about the bow leg correction? I'm interested to know how much extra time and trouble it will take on top of the lengthening. It sounds like you have a fairly similar situation: my bow legs are not extreme but I can fit four fingers in between my knees when standing with my feet together. It would be a double whammy to fix this and gain 4 or 5cm too.


He replied today a few days late saying

“ long-film is necessary for that — https://www.straightlegs.ru/long-film
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 29, 2021, 09:26:19 PM
Update, I decided to go with the most expensive hospital because they have 30+ performed there so I assume the PT is better and also the doctors are more qualified because it is a higher end hospital. Besides a good surgeon I considered the anesthesiologist is better and also the doctors speak English and it is very close to the center or the center. The other hospitals are 1-2 hrs away from my hotel I am planning
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on January 29, 2021, 09:58:32 PM
How long are you planning to stay in hospital before moving to the hotel? Will you travel into the hospital daily for PT and checkups? Can I ask how much the entire things is projected to cost and how long you intend to stay in Russia? You're doing LATN tibia 5cm plus leg straightening, right? Most grateful for your replies.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Skyisthelimit on January 29, 2021, 10:29:51 PM
I am planning on going to dr. kulesh and Solomin as well. Not sure when yet, since I’m still saving up for it. Might go for it towards the end of 2021. Already emailed dr. Kulesh and got his word document with all the options available from which I can choose. I believe I’ll be going for 7 - 7.5cms tibias fully externals. According to the options and my choices, I would be looking at around €5k for everything that involves the surgery, medicine, stay at the hospital, re-bandages, wheelchair, x-rays, and the crutches. This is excluding rent, food, and transportation for the 4 months I would be staying in Russia. These would probably add up another €2.5k. So an appropriate estimate would be €7.5k give or take €1k. Maybe this estimate can help you chipsnsalsa.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 29, 2021, 11:48:06 PM
How long are you planning to stay in hospital before moving to the hotel? Will you travel into the hospital daily for PT and checkups? Can I ask how much the entire things is projected to cost and how long you intend to stay in Russia? You're doing LATN tibia 5cm plus leg straightening, right? Most grateful for your replies.

I’m doing fully externals. I plan on doing internals for femurs but kulesh recommends fully external for tibia, it has least complication and I doubt recovery would be as smooth having a mail go through your knee. For femurs it’s through you butt/hip so I wouldn’t recommend nailing tibia. Might be more convenient but in the long run not worth it and then you have to take the nails and screws out.

I think everything is like 7500usd with the higher end hospital. With expenses another 2-3 grand. The other hospitals don’t speak English and don’t look on tip top shape. Will stay in hospital 5 days. Also 5-6 cm I plan on
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on January 29, 2021, 11:49:03 PM
I am planning on going to dr. kulesh and Solomin as well. Not sure when yet, since I’m still saving up for it. Might go for it towards the end of 2021. Already emailed dr. Kulesh and got his word document with all the options available from which I can choose. I believe I’ll be going for 7 - 7.5cms tibias fully externals. According to the options and my choices, I would be looking at around €5k for everything that involves the surgery, medicine, stay at the hospital, re-bandages, wheelchair, x-rays, and the crutches. This is excluding rent, food, and transportation for the 4 months I would be staying in Russia. These would probably add up another €2.5k. So an appropriate estimate would be €7.5k give or take €1k. Maybe this estimate can help you chipsnsalsa.


7-7.5 on tibias is a very bad idea. Just some advice
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on January 30, 2021, 04:17:06 PM
Oh wow so you're not getting any nail at all? How long will it take? And can they straighten your bowlegs without a nail?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Skyisthelimit on January 30, 2021, 07:26:38 PM
Oh wow so you're not getting any nail at all? How long will it take? And can they straighten your bowlegs without a nail?
Yeah, of course. Fully externals is the way to correct any sort of deformity. You can’t correct deformities with internal nails.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: HeightGain on January 30, 2021, 08:28:41 PM
You really should get a long leg regardless.

What about pili, he has got some good results and location is preferable?

Most bow leg correction you won't gain that much height from in itself.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on January 31, 2021, 10:21:55 PM
Yeah, of course. Fully externals is the way to correct any sort of deformity. You can’t correct deformities with internal nails.

But doesn't it take the best part of a year in frames without a nail, during which you can't bear weight? I've read diaries of people who intended to do full external but after 6 months they couldn't take it any more and got the nail put in.

As I understand it with LATN you have the initial operation in which the docs cut the tibia, and they can also correct the bow; then lengthen for 2 or 3 months, then have a second surgery to put in a nail which will hold the tibias in the new straight unbowed position and allow greater mobility while the bone heals.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Vibes on February 01, 2021, 02:25:32 AM
Yeah, of course. Fully externals is the way to correct any sort of deformity. You can’t correct deformities with internal nails.

I thought for slight deformities blocking screws could be used with internals such as stryde?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on February 01, 2021, 06:32:41 AM
But doesn't it take the best part of a year in frames without a nail, during which you can't bear weight? I've read diaries of people who intended to do full external but after 6 months they couldn't take it any more and got the nail put in.

As I understand it with LATN you have the initial operation in which the docs cut the tibia, and they can also correct the bow; then lengthen for 2 or 3 months, then have a second surgery to put in a nail which will hold the tibias in the new straight unbowed position and allow greater mobility while the bone heals.

I believe the frames are weight bearing
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 01, 2021, 11:42:36 PM
I believe the frames are weight bearing

Have Drs Kulesh and Solomin told you how long they estimate the frames will have to stay on without any nail? That will obviously be quite an impediment - are you planning to stay in Russia for the duration until they can remove them?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 01:25:55 AM
externals are fine, actually easy enough after the first few days - i was in volgograd - 5cm possibly in 7/8 months but time will fly and you are young - i would stay at a hotel near to the clinic - go with a positive attitude and u will love russia!!  🇷🇺
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on February 02, 2021, 03:17:50 AM
Have Drs Kulesh and Solomin told you how long they estimate the frames will have to stay on without any nail? That will obviously be quite an impediment - are you planning to stay in Russia for the duration until they can remove them?

Average is 6 weeks per CM

Depends on your body tho
Some people take 2 months some 1
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on February 02, 2021, 03:18:23 AM
externals are fine, actually easy enough after the first few days - i was in volgograd - 5cm possibly in 7/8 months but time will fly and you are young - i would stay at a hotel near to the clinic - go with a positive attitude and u will love russia!!  🇷🇺

St Pete looked very nice, I’m gonna stay just for distraction. Who was your doctor?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 02, 2021, 07:01:36 AM
externals are fine, actually easy enough after the first few days - i was in volgograd - 5cm possibly in 7/8 months but time will fly and you are young - i would stay at a hotel near to the clinic - go with a positive attitude and u will love russia!!  🇷🇺

Cool, were you with Dr Barinov? So you stayed 8 month for 5cm and after that you were fully healed? Were the frames weight-bearing, or at least partially weight-bearing so you could move around with a walker? I must admit being immobile for 8 months would be tough.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 12:31:16 PM
dr barinov - u should stay for all the time so the doctor can monitor you re any complications etc
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 12:34:09 PM
just read your above post - the frames are fully weightbearing - you get used to them actually and 8 months is not long for the future benefits etc  :)
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 02, 2021, 09:42:29 PM
th - thanks for your replies dude. How did you spend your 8 months in Russia? You stayed at a hotel near the clinic and checked in daily? How long after the surgery were you able to walk around? So after the 8months, you had the frames removed and you could pretty much walk as normal, 5cm taller? Btw I heard Barinov's clinic is full of Russian babes, did you make any friends? ;D 
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 11:08:18 PM
first 3 months in yhe hospital, was good fun etc doctors visited daily - 1 month in clinic  paid for the month  next 4 months in nearby hotel  buffet breakfast, gym in basement, was ideal - paid every 3 or 4 weeks, english spesking staff so was great - got to know the city v well, found 2 pool halls and played there most days,  good for walking etc! - cafes, a couple of bars and local sites - pretty girls in clinic but could be a bit suffocating after a while so i preferred to venture out and then move out - visited regularly for check-ups and catch-ups! had great time, embraced it and wish i did femurs after!! but had to return home...
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 11:10:30 PM
for tibias i think russian external is the safest and best -good prices tooooo  :)
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 11:14:23 PM
you can walk without crutches after a while maybe 3 months after surgery, i was runninb in london about 1 year after 1 year - i got back to full fitness  faster times etc - it lessened my height neurosis but didn't cure it -
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Apollo676 on February 02, 2021, 11:23:16 PM
In total,how much did you pay ? How was the everyday life ? Could you like work on your computer everyday,how was sleep and quality of life in general ?
You did tibias right ? How much cm and whats was your starting height ?
Cheers
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 02, 2021, 11:36:27 PM
€12500 for surgery and 3 months hospital stay, includes medical care and food and room - clinic €1000 a month, hotel €25 a night (roubles) - yes another patient had a laptop, then i used hotel business room for comp access, sleep not great at first but u get by - i was 175 and did 4 cm - quality of life was great, was lonely leaving...
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on February 03, 2021, 01:48:25 AM
€12500 for surgery and 3 months hospital stay, includes medical care and food and room - clinic €1000 a month, hotel €25 a night (roubles) - yes another patient had a laptop, then i used hotel business room for comp access, sleep not great at first but u get by - i was 175 and did 4 cm - quality of life was great, was lonely leaving...

That’s crazy 175->179 is above average man you should take it and be happy

That’s like 5’11 lol that’s great
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 03, 2021, 03:09:19 AM
yes it is fine - my main point was to go and enjoy russia 🇷🇺
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 03, 2021, 09:41:52 PM
yes it is fine - my main point was to go and enjoy russia 🇷🇺

Very cool. Do you have a diary from your time there? I guess with only 4cm you didn't have any issues with ballerina feet or anything? Did you have bow legs straightened as well or just the 4cm?

Did you take a year off from your job or do you work online? Sounds like an interesting experience.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 03, 2021, 10:13:45 PM
i didn't do a diary (not really my thing)  tho another lad there did on old forum (2014/5) - i got an infection that took a month or so to clear up which delayed things - no other issues, had slight ballerina but put weight across the knee with feet on a chair which worked after a week or so - yes  took 9 months off work, got this agreed before i left - was good mentally to have work to go back to - in fussia the patient has to takd alot if te responsibility to progress and follow doctors instructions  :)
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 03, 2021, 11:55:04 PM
i didn't do a diary (not really my thing)  tho another lad there did on old forum (2014/5) - i got an infection that took a month or so to clear up which delayed things - no other issues, had slight ballerina but put weight across the knee with feet on a chair which worked after a week or so - yes  took 9 months off work, got this agreed before i left - was good mentally to have work to go back to - in fussia the patient has to takd alot if te responsibility to progress and follow doctors instructions  :)

Are you a physically active person? If so, how long did it take till you could get back to playing sports, hitting the gym etc, without worrying about your legs? (You wrote earlier you were running after 1 year: is that 1 year after the surgery, 1 year after frame removal...?) And is it true that your calf muscles hypertrophy (become naturally bigger, thicker and stronger) after tibia lengthening?
Thanks again for all the useful info
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 04, 2021, 12:29:05 AM
well i was 39 when i had it done so i had finished playing football by then - v physically active, i was able to use the hotel gym when there, leg presses low weight with the frames on - on return home i continued to build up strength, seated leg presses and leg extensions as well as upper body obviously -  i would still be catious gor a further 6 months no squats till then - running 1 year after surgery, another year till reaching old times, 4 & 8 miles and then surpassing previous times - doctor vonfirmed takes 3 years till everything, ligaments  tendons as well as bone is healed - calf do seem bigger tho covering larger area - only 4cm mind, was advised to stop
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 04, 2021, 12:30:17 AM
sorry for
spelling  using phone
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 06, 2021, 08:00:19 PM
That's cool. It does seem like fully external tibias, as old as it is, is the least likely to create problems down the line because there is no nail inserted.

About the height gain, some people reported their actual increase in height is less than the amount that the bone was claimed to be distracted. I guess you distracted to 4cm? Now that everything is healed and stable, how much actual height increase do you have from before the surgery?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 06, 2021, 10:13:24 PM
4cm  :)
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 06, 2021, 10:21:36 PM
i agree external is the safest and obviously least invasive - they seem out of fashion now!! but 9nce the frames are off job done! - looking back i think barinov would do external femur too - all other patients really found the frames ok - don't forget there were many female correction patients too using externals, including one in her late 50's - they also were fine - the frames can be cumbersome rather than painful, they are held so tight u see - the cost is also excellent, some went up to 8cm (tho i don't recommend this)
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Jamesy998 on February 07, 2021, 07:01:22 PM
just read your above post - the frames are fully weightbearing - you get used to them actually and 8 months is not long for the future benefits etc  :)

8 Months is long. Just get LON and with 5cm you will only have to lengthen for like a 2 months and then you can remove it.
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 07, 2021, 07:12:54 PM
i was 6 and a half months in frames - i took 8 months off work - an infection set me back a touch
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 07, 2021, 07:14:37 PM
barinov only does latn and external
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 07, 2021, 09:38:20 PM
i was 6 and a half months in frames - i took 8 months off work - an infection set me back a touch

So if I got the timescale right, you went to Russia and had the op straight away, lengthened 4cm over i guess 2 months? Then spent a further 4.5 months in frames consolidating (total 6.5 months in frames). Then you had the frames removed and stayed in Russia a further 1.5 months doing physical therapy before returning home to work?

When you got home, were you walking normally? Did people at work notice anything was off?

Btw can I ask how are the scars?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 07, 2021, 10:15:23 PM
yes give or take - i stayed in russia 2 more weeks, went to my home country to rest another month and see parents etc - i got the odd comment from people who thought i'd lost weight - felt more confident, right leg was still fragile so had a slight limp - scars either side of knee so not seen, also faded quick enough - went back to russia 6 months later, to see doctors and x rays- given go ahead to run slowly - was strange returning without the frames visiting old haunts!!
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: chipsnsalsa on February 08, 2021, 06:24:06 AM
Didn't you have scars in the middle of your lower leg?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: th on February 08, 2021, 09:48:58 AM
only pin site holes above the ankle and either side beneath the knee - they were not at all bad
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Bob on May 12, 2021, 05:33:06 PM
Update, I decided to go with the most expensive hospital because they have 30+ performed there so I assume the PT is better and also the doctors are more qualified because it is a higher end hospital. Besides a good surgeon I considered the anesthesiologist is better and also the doctors speak English and it is very close to the center or the center. The other hospitals are 1-2 hrs away from my hotel I am planning

Did you get the surgery?
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Activatedxx on May 12, 2021, 05:50:22 PM
Did you get the surgery?

I am scheduled for tomorrow in turkey god willing,
Didn’t work out in Russia couldn’t get approved for a visa
Title: Re: Set for external tibia dr Kulesh/Solomin April 2021
Post by: Bob on May 12, 2021, 06:38:55 PM
I am scheduled for tomorrow in turkey god willing,
Didn’t work out in Russia couldn’t get approved for a visa

Good luck.