The desire for height in China has led to two bizarre practices which guarantee to make you taller. The Chinese believe that stature is important for things such as job promotions and good marriages.
One procedure is a medieval rack-type device that gradually stretches the user out. The other, which is surgical, requires breaking of the legs and separating them with pins.

Xia breaks his patient's legs, then attaches metal pins to the separated bones, which are held in place by metal frames around the patient's legs.
The patient then has to twist a knob daily to drag the ends of broken bone apart gradually, encouraging new bone to grow to bridge the gap as the fracture heals, resulting in longer bones, and a taller person, according to the report.
He insists that his procedure has a high rate of success. However, Xia said that there are other operators in China who botch the job.

Competition for work and business success in China can pressure job seekers to take drastic action to increase their height. Job advertisements often prominently list height requirements for potential candidates.

Keith

Oklahoma City, OK

August 2002

JUN 08, 2005 11:06 AM

Curiosity said:
The other, which is surgical, requires breaking of the legs and separating them with pins.

This is similar to what they did to a friend of mine who was born with several minor birth defects, one of which being that his left leg was about 6 inches shorter than the right. He said it hurt like a sonofabitch, as you can imagine.

OpticNerve

Arlington, MA

November 2003

JUN 08, 2005 11:08 AM

Wasn't this the plot of the first episode of 'South Park' this season?

Snottlebocket

Netherlands

March 2004

JUN 08, 2005 11:11 AM

Gattica

Dan76

Seattle, WA

February 2004

JUN 08, 2005 11:16 AM

Owee.

iamjacksusername

Los Angeles, CA

April 2005

JUN 08, 2005 11:50 AM

"Air China, can I help you."
"Round trip to China? Surely. Name please?"
"Alright, so it's spelled D-A-N-Z-I-G, correct?"

D0BERMANN

Quebec, QC

May 2004

JUN 08, 2005 11:53 AM

iamjacksusername said:
"Air China, can I help you."
"Round trip to China? Surely. Name please?"
"Alright, so it's spelled D-A-N-Z-I-G, correct?"

Cause The Danzig is short...eh?

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

JUN 08, 2005 11:55 AM

Little people have undergone this surgery to lengthen their limbs. It's nothing really new. But I understand it's pretty dangerous, especially for an elective surgery. Wow.

wottan

Vancouver, BC

July 2004

JUN 08, 2005 11:58 AM

Wren said:
Little people have undergone this surgery to lengthen their limbs. It's nothing really new. But I understand it's pretty dangerous, especially for an elective surgery. Wow.

Yeah I was just going to say this as well. I saw it on tv a few years ago, when a little person did it. Apparently it is extremely painful, and it takes a long time to do.

stellartrane

Austin, TX

February 2003

JUN 08, 2005 11:59 AM

can that be done with the penis...

[Edited on Jun 08, 2005 12:00PM]

Wren

SUICIDEGIRL

Minnesota, USA

JUN 08, 2005 12:01 PM

stellartrane said:
nice.. is that kind of like Americans putting holes all over random parts of thier bodies to be cooler.

No, not really.

iamjacksusername

Los Angeles, CA

April 2005

JUN 08, 2005 12:04 PM

D0BERMANN said:

iamjacksusername said:
"Air China, can I help you."
"Round trip to China? Surely. Name please?"
"Alright, so it's spelled D-A-N-Z-I-G, correct?"

Cause The Danzig is short...eh?

No flies on you.

LyloniJade

Madison, WI

May 2004

JUN 08, 2005 12:12 PM

So they have Height requirements for some jobs. I would understand that if they needed someone to change the Basketball net with out a ladder. Not typing a tps report...

[Edited on Jun 08, 2005 by LyloniJade]

xokatyxo

United Kingdom

December 2004

JUN 08, 2005 12:45 PM

I know a little person (midget) who had that done when she was younger. She got 10 inches taller because of it.. took a long time and fucking HURT though.