I perform the ‘most painful’ cosmetic surgery in the world. This is why the government is trying to shut me down
A doctor who performs the “most painful” surgery in the world has been threatened with fines and criminal charges by her local government.
Dr. Marie Gdalevitch, an orthopedic surgeon in Quebec, Canada, has been offering osteotomy surgeries, or limb lengthening operations, for more than a decade to patients looking to grow taller.
The $90,000 operation, which can increase height by two inches, involves breaking the leg bones and then inserting a metal rod into their bone marrow, which is then gradually lengthened to allow the leg bone to grow taller.
She offers the surgery to people with dwarfism and limb deformities through the Canadian health care system, as well as privately to young men concerned about their height.
However, earlier this month, Quebec updated its list of approved surgeries in the province and did not include osteotomy on the list.
She has been left reeling by the decision and has now received a letter ordering her to stop offering the operations or face penalties.
Dr. Gdalevitch has now had to reschedule dozens of procedures and said she was fully booked until May. She is calling on local authorities to add her operation to the list.
She told me CTV News: ‘The Quebec Orthopedic Association agrees that they can do this, agrees that they can do deformity correction, limb lengthening and even posture lengthening.
Dr. Marie Gdalevitch, an orthopedic surgeon in Quebec, Canada, offers osteotomy or limb lengthening surgeries for patients who want to grow taller
“It is unclear who made the final decision, but someone (within the authorities) disagrees for reasons I still don’t understand.”
The list of approved private practices is approved by the Ministry of Health and the College des Medecins in Quebec.
The organizations did not explain why osteotomies were ruled out, but in the past patients have complained of extreme pain as a result of the surgery.
There are also risks associated with the procedure, including nerve damage, muscle damage, dislocations, and arthritis.
Canada has a public health insurance system that covers essential medical services such as doctor visits, hospital stays and surgeries for patients.
However, about 60 percent of residents also have private health insurance, which covers “non-essential” care such as prescription medications, eye care, dental and mental health care.
In Quebec, the public system is called the Regie de l’assurance maladie du Quebec (RAMQ). The state also has an approved list of private procedures, which it suggests are intended to stop the flight to the private sector.
Dr. Gdalevitch, who opened a clinic in the province last month, says she may now have to move outside the province to offer the procedure, making it less accessible to her patients.
Dr. Gdalevitch, pictured above, opened a new clinic last month
She said it could also force patients wanting surgery to go abroad, where it may not be as well regulated.
Previously, she was able to offer the surgery through a loophole because the list of approved private practices was rarely updated, which she said led to the surgery she offered being “tolerated.”
The doctor added to the local broadcaster: ‘They have given me a very strict warning that this could be something for which they would take me to criminal court.’
Leg lengthening surgeries have boomed in recent years as young men seek procedures to add vital inches to their height, which they believe will help their romantic lives and careers.
Previous patients – including a Colombian influencer who grew from six feet to six feet tall – have described suffering excruciating pain.
Yeferson Cossio, 29, had the operation late last year but said it left him in so much pain he felt like he was going to collapse and was desperate to get the rods out.
The pain is so excruciating that he is ‘constantly interrupting’ his sleep, with Mr Cossio saying he can now sleep for ‘a maximum of about two hours (each night)’.