Actor and comedian Rich Rotella made headlines for undergoing a controversial height surgery to fulfill his dream. At 38, he was the first public figure in the U.S. to choose cosmetic limb lengthening surgery to grow by 3.25 inches. With a documentary in the works, Rotella shares his experience after deciding to permanently solve his height issue. Partnering with Dr. Dror Paley, he spent over a year recovering from the $107,000 operation that promised to increase his height from 5’5” to 5’8”.
How tall do you want to be?
The desire for cosmetic height surgery is on the rise internationally, with some patients willing to spend up to $215,000 to achieve their height goals. The surgery involves breaking leg bones and using electromagnetic lengthening pins for bone healing. While it’s a risky and expensive procedure, the trend in increasing height for cosmetic reasons is gaining traction despite skepticism from some medical professionals.
Despite the risks and costs involved, more people are considering cosmetic height surgery to align with beauty standards and boost self-esteem. As the demand grows, the possibility of undergoing this procedure becomes a topic of discussion globally.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAÍS USA Edition