A man so unhappy with his height he felt suicidal has undergone painful limb-lengthening surgery to increase his height by three inches.
The £25,000 procedure has seen Daniel Farbod, a 27-year-old civil engineer, grow from 5ft 7in to a more confident 5ft 10in. Mr Farbod, who had been plagued with height-related insecurities "all (his) life", confessed that his stunted growth at age 14 felt like a "tragic" and heart-wrenching event. He equated "being masculine" with being tall and was consumed with shame as he "didn't feel like a man."
His height became an obsession, impacting his mental health to the point where he harboured "suicidal thoughts". However, upon discovering the unique limb-lengthening surgery online, Mr Farbod realised he was ready to "sacrifice time and money to get his life back."
In May 2021, he underwent his first procedure at a specialist clinic in Turkey. The complex operation involved breaking his femurs, hollowing out the bone, and inserting a rod inside the bone with external fixators - pieces of steel on the outside of his legs. Now standing taller, Mr Farbod claims he is "so much happier" and brimming with "confidence".
The civil engineer is pictured before and after the operation (PA)In a remarkable tale of resilience and self-improvement, Mr Farbod underwent a gruelling four-month process of daily adjustments to his bone fixators using an Allen key. Following a successful second surgery to remove the fixators after his bones had fused together, Mr Farbod emerged with renewed confidence and happiness that he found hard to "put into words". Now, he's sharing his transformative journey on social media to inspire others grappling with insecurities about their height.
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Speaking to PA Real Life, Mr Farbod expressed immense pride in his decision to undergo the surgery, saying: "I'm really proud of myself for having the surgery. I was insecure all my life about my height, it impacted my mental health so badly."
He candidly revealed the depths of his despair, admitting, "I was suicidal, and after admitting that I wanted to take the steps to feel better, and have the surgery, I feel so much better."
Mr Farbod stressed the importance of understanding the challenges of the surgery and recovery process, describing it as "the hardest thing I've ever done." However, he affirmed that it was a life-changing experience that led to his growth, both literally and metaphorically.
The man flew from Canada to Turkey to have the surgery (PA)
Fixators were installed in Mr Farbod's leg (PA)Always self-conscious about his height, Mr Farbod stopped growing at age 14, which triggered an obsession with finding ways to increase his height. He confessed: "I researched everything from socks and supplements that claimed to increase your height."
His insecurity was so profound that it led him to seek help from orthopaedic doctors out of fear of not growing. Reflecting on this period, he said, "But when I got to age 14, I stopped and it was so depressing." In a heart-wrenching revelation, Mr Farbod shared the mental health struggles he faced due to his height, which had a profound impact on his self-esteem and confidence. He confessed: "It was so tragic for me, it was like my first stab to the heart.
Haunted by dreams of being taller, Mr Farbod grappled with the harsh reality that his height had peaked. He tried to distract himself to manage his thoughts, but 2020 proved to be an unbearable year filled with negative and suicidal thoughts. He lamented, "I think being masculine, and being a man, means to be tall. I didn't feel like a man, I was so ashamed."
Feeling cornered by his despair, Mr Farbod saw limb-lengthening surgery as his only salvation. However, his parents, who are both "on the shorter side", disapproved of his decision to undergo cosmetic surgery.
Mr Farbod recalled the resistance he faced, saying: "Everyone was really against the idea because they thought it was not natural and it was changing the way your body is meant to be." Despite knowing the challenges of the surgery, Daniel believed enduring physical pain was preferable to his suicidal thoughts.
With a determined spirit, he declared: "I was willing to sacrifice time and money to get my life back." In a remarkable tale of resilience and determination, Mr Farbod underwent his first surgery at the specialist clinic, Live Life Taller in Turkey, in May 2021. The complex procedure involved breaking both of his femurs, hollowing out the bone, and inserting a rod inside the bone with external fixators steel pieces attached to the outside of his legs.
Mr Farbod, from Toronto, Canada, confessed: "I was really scared when I got to the clinic, and the breaking of the bones was the part I was most nervous about in the whole process." However, waking up post-surgery brought a wave of relief and happiness that washed over him.
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Mr Farbod felt depressed when he realised he had not grown since he was 14 years old (PA)The road to recovery was far from smooth. It entailed wheelchair-bound days and the use of an Allen key to turn a bolt on the fixators four times daily at 90 degrees, gradually separating the bone segments. This painstaking process continued for four and a half months. Reflecting on his gruelling recovery, Mr Farbod said: "My skin was stretching, my muscles were growing, it was madness."
Despite the usual recovery period being three months, Mr Farbod's journey took longer due to nerve issues with his right leg, which required additional surgery. He admitted, "It was a very tough time." By September 2021, the external fixators were removed. Mr Farbod shared: "I used a walker and really really slowly I worked up to using crutches. I couldn't really tell how tall I was at that point." It took another three months before he could stand upright.
The ordeal saw Mr Farbod grow from 5 ft 7 to 5ft 10, a transformation that he believes has significantly improved his mental health. In a heartwarming revelation, he shared: "I couldn't believe it. I had been dreaming of being a tall man since I was 10 years old, it's all I've ever wanted. After enduring countless sleepless nights, trauma and upset, I finally achieved my goal."
Overwhelmed with joy, he added: "I can't even put into words how happy I was, and still am I felt so much more confident." Upon his triumphant return home, Mr Farbod found his family equally elated. He recounted, "They looked after me so much I could barely get out of bed or bend down for a long time. They could tell I was so much happier when I recovered."
Now, Mr Farbod is using his personal journey to inspire others who are insecure about their height. Sharing his experiences on Instagram and YouTube, he said: "I want to show people the reality of the surgery - it's tough but I want to raise awareness and get men talking about their insecurities."
For those in need of support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to webhomepage@mirror.co.uk
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