I perform the ‘world’s most painful’ cosmetic surgery… here’s why the government is trying to shut me down
A doctor who offers the ‘world’s most painful’ surgery has been threatened with fines and criminal charges by her local government.
Dr Marie Gdalevitch, an orthopedic surgeon in Quebec, Canada, has offered osteotomy operations, or limb-lengthening surgeries, for more than a decade to patients seeking to become taller.
The $90,000 surgery that can boost height by three inches involves breaking the leg bones and then inserting a metal rod into their marrow, which is then gradually lengthened to force the leg bone to grow taller.
She offers the surgery to those with dwarfism and limb deformities through Canada’s public health system, as well as privately to young men worried about their height.
Earlier this month, however, Quebec updated its list of approved surgeries in the province and did not include an osteotomy on the list.
She has been left reeling by the decision, and has now received a letter ordering her to stop offering the surgeries or face penalties.
Dr Gdalevitch has now had to reschedule dozens of procedures, saying that she was fully booked until May. She is appealing to local authorities to have her surgery added to the list.
She told CTV News: ‘The Quebec Orthopedic Association agrees with being able to do this, agrees with being able to do deformity correction, limb-lengthening, and even stature lengthening.
Dr Marie Gdalevitch, an orthopedic surgeon in Quebec, Canada , offers osteotomy operations, or limb-lengthening surgeries, for patients seeking to become taller
‘It’s unclear who took the final decision, but somebody [in the authorities] does not agree with this for reasons that I still don’t understand.’
The list of approved private surgeries is cleared by the Health Ministry and College des Medecins in Quebec.
The organizations have not explained why osteotomies were excluded, but in the past patients have complained of extreme pain from the surgery.
There are also risks from the procedure including nerve damage, muscle damage, dislocations and arthritis.
Canada has a public health insurance system that covers essential medical services like doctor’s visits, hospital stays and surgeries for patients.
About 60 percent of residents, however, also have private health insurance, which covers ‘non-essential’ care like prescription medications, vision, dental and mental health.
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 is suggested to be in order to stop a run to the private sector.
Dr Gdalevitch, who opened another clinic in the province last month, says she may now have to move out-of-province to offer the procedure, making it less accessible for her patients.
Dr Gdalevitch, pictured above, opened a new clinic last month
She said it could also force patients who were seeking the surgery to head abroad, where it may not be as well regulated.
She was previously able to offer the surgery via a loophole because the list of approved private practices was rarely updated, which she said led to the surgery she was offering being ‘tolerated’.
The doctor added to the local broadcaster: ‘They’ve given me a very strict warning that this could be something that they would take me to criminal court for.’
Leg-lengthening surgeries have seen a boom in recent years as young men seek the 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 5ft 8in to 6ft — have described being left in excruciating pain.
Yeferson Cossio, 29, had the surgery late last year, but said it left him in so much pain he felt like he would collapse and was desperate to take the rods out.
The pain is so excruciating that it is ‘constantly interrupting’ his sleep, with Mr Cossio saying he can now only sleep for ‘around two hours [every night], maximum’.
