A 28-year-old Dublin resident took out a bank loan to pay for leg-lengthening surgery in Turkey, adding four inches to his height. Marius Gros, originally from Romania, underwent the procedure on January 29, 2025, at the Wanna Be Taller clinic in Istanbul. The operation cost just under £20,000, far less than the up to $200,000 he found in the USA.
Gros said he had always wished he was taller, noting that the average height in Ireland seems higher than in Romania. 'In Ireland the men are mostly 5ft 11in or 6ft and I felt short when I was out on the street,' he said.
Surgery and recovery
The operation involved breaking his femurs and fitting metal frames to his legs. After waking up, he was still the same height. He had to turn screws on the frames four times daily, increasing the gap between the bones by 1mm each day, forcing them to lengthen as they healed. 'I knew it would be painful, but it would be worth it in the end,' he said.
The first two weeks were particularly difficult, with Gros largely confined to bed. After four days in hospital, he spent 11 days at a nearby hotel, working with a physiotherapist while nurses changed his bandages. He then returned to Ireland and remained off work for four months, using a wheelchair before progressing to a walker and crutches.
Evidence of growth
As his legs healed, everyday objects offered proof the operation was working. Gros noticed he needed to lower his hand further to use his coffee machine and microwave because his point of view had changed. By May 2025, the lengthening process was complete, and he had gained around four inches.
Eighteen months after the operation, Gros is fully healed and stands 5ft 11in. He said running still feels 'a bit weird' while his brain adjusts to his new height, but he is no longer in pain. He documents his progress on TikTok as @mariusgros1111.
No regrets
Gros has nearly repaid the loan and insists he does not regret the decision. 'If I rewound time, I'd do the same thing again,' he said. He previously trained in Muay Thai and was a keen gymgoer, but accepted losing muscle during recovery. Even walking from his bedroom to the kitchen to make porridge became part of rebuilding his strength.
