Although China has banned limb-lengthening surgery for cosmetic purposes since 2006, new investigations reveal that an underground network of brokers, doctors, and illegal clinics continues to promote the procedure to young people, particularly women. The procedure involves breaking the bones in both legs and then gradually separating them over several months, allowing new bone to grow in the gap.
The surgery costs anywhere from 100,000 to more than 1 million yuan. Brokers reportedly earn commissions of up to 80,000 yuan for referring each new patient. One of the victims is a 30-year-old influencer with more than two million followers. Hoping to gain a few extra centimeters in height, she paid 160,000 yuan for the procedure.
