Man spends over N78.5m on leg surgery to grow taller and get more women

A man in Minnesota, US, has spent more than $170,000 (N78.5 m)  on two leg-lengthening operations in order to increase his chances in the dating pool.

Moses Gibson, 41, says he battled for a long time to find a lover because of his 5-foot-5 stature, initially turning to medication and a “spiritual healer” to attempt to boost his height.

“I didn’t feel good about myself,” Gibson said, adding that he had been subjected to “elitism.”

“I was unhappy most of the time,” he admitted. “It affected my confidence in general, as well as with women. It had an effect on my dating life. I used to stuff things in my shoes to gain a little height, but it wasn’t much.”

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Gibson, desperate, began taking drugs he bought on the Internet that promised to make him taller.

He also began speaking with a spiritual healer, who informed him that if he set his mind to it, he could raise his height.

However, when both medicine and holistic thinking failed to produce further inches on a height chart, Gibson realised that an expensive and painful leg-lengthening surgery was his only option.

Doctors fractured Gibson’s tibia and fibula bones and screwed magnetic, limb-long nails into them during the reportedly agonising surgery.

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Over the course of three years, the self-described “go-getter” saved $75,000 (N34.6 m) for the operation by working as a software engineer by day and an Uber driver by night to supplement his income.

Gibson got this treatment in 2016, and it increased his height by 3 inches, bringing him to 5-foot-8.

“I was somewhat satisfied with the first procedure, but it was always in the back of my mind that I wanted to do a second one to complete it,” the Minnesota native revealed. “I am an overachiever. I have money, and I can travel.”

Gibson spent another $98,000 (N45.2 m) on a second procedure in March of this year, which he expects will enhance his height by 2 inches.

Gibson had a second surgery last month with the hopes of adding another 2 inches to his height.

“They give you strong pain medication because there are times when it’s extremely painful and you need it.”

“I’d be content with 5-foot-10,” he declared. “However, if my body and everything else allow me to grow 3 inches to 5-foot-11, that’s fantastic!”

Gibson has stated that the surgery has given him the confidence to speak openly to ladies – and he’s one of the lucky ones.

“After the first surgery, I was less hesitant and concerned about the outcome when speaking with women. I now have a girlfriend,” he declared proudly. “I also began wearing shorts and taking full-body pictures, which I had never done before.”

“In my mind, when I’m done with this part, I can just break free,” he remarked, referring to the extra inches he wants to achieve following the second treatment. “I will no longer be concerned about my height. I’ll be content with what I have.”

Gibson stated no regrets, despite the pain and expense of the treatments.

“I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to go for it,” he said. “I definitely want to spread the word, and if it can help other people who are going through this, then I’m happy.”

However, leg lengthening surgery is not usually advised by the UK’s National Health Service.

According to the organization, the procedure can result in poor bone growth, abnormal bone lengthening, fractures, and blood clots.