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Articles or videos on heightism or the growing popularity of cosmetic limb lengthening surgery.

TitlePublisherDate
Inside The World Of Leg Lengthening Surgery: On Assignment | ITV News
Rich Rotella, who had his femur lengthening surgery in mid-2022 at the Paley Institute, has done another interview of his completed leg lengthening journey. He went from 5'5" to 5'8" and explains in more detail how his life opportunities have greatly improved.
What you get is more opportunities. Relationships. Careers.
Gets treated with more respect in public places like a grocery store. Before people would overlook and ignore him. Now people approach him in a more positive and friendly manner, and employees greet him with more respect by recognizing him and say "How can I help you, sir?"
Gets 30 to 40 percent increase in opportunities for acting roles in Hollywood.

ITV NewsApr 2024
Hollywood actor grows 3 inches taller after limb lengthening surgery
Remember Hollywood actor Rich Rotella who had his femur lengthening surgery in mid-2022 at the Paley Institute? Not only is he done lengthening a while ago, but he just had his internal Precice 2 nails removed. He went from 5'5" to 5'8" and explains how his life opportunities have greatly improved as a result.
"I went ahead and I changed my height on the casting websites and I made myself 3 inches taller. You know what happened? I starting getting lead roles, opportunities, auditions for way bigger parts and bigger movies. [Also explains how dating opportunities are better]" - Rich Rotella
St. Marys Medical CenterDec 2023
Why American Presidents are so tall
Video analysis of the influence of a person's height in the field of politics and power.
Eddie EllerbyOct 2023
Short Men Problems
A compilation article gathered from other articles and videos on the problems of short men.
Short Women Problems
A compilation article gathered from other articles and videos on the problems of short women.
Heightism In The Workplace: How Height Discrimination Hurts Careers
Recently updated article on heightism in the workplace. Also has helpful tips on handling and fighting heightism in the workplace.
Bootstrap BusinessUpdated 2023
Police release photo, identity of Sillim Station stabber
The man who went on a stabbing rampage near Sillim Station in Gwanak District, southern Seoul (South Korea), last Friday, killing one and injuring three others, has been identified as 33-year-old [name withheld]. His acquaintances have told police that the suspect was "always lonely" and splurged most of his money on alcohol and gambling. During investigations, he reportedly told police that he felt "inferior" due to his short height and envied taller men who were of similar age.
Korea JoongAhn DailyJuly 2023
Limb Lengthening: A cosmetic height surgery that's gaining popularity
Dr Michael Assayag (my doctor) in Baltimore, Maryland interviewed. Video interview included in article.
CBS News BaltimoreMay 2023
Limb-lengthening surgery can make you taller, but it isn't an easy cosmetic fix
Dr Samir Mehta from the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia interviewed.
Philly VoiceMay 2023
I had excruciating leg surgery to grow 5 inches - and get more dates
A Minnesota man spent more than $170,000 on two leg-lengthening surgeries to go from 5'5" to 5'10".
New York PostApr 2023
Leg Up: Canadian men opting for limb-lengthening surgery to become taller
Cosmetic leg lengthening surgery in Canada. Includes interviews with a Canadian CLL patient and orthopedic surgeon Dr Marie Gdalevitch.
CTV W5 (Video)Feb 2023
I'm a leg-lengthening surgeon. Most of my clients are men with confidence issues - here's what the procedure's like
Dr Shahab Mahboubian from Los Angeles interviewed.
Business InsiderJan 2023
Shorter height, lower salary: Height discrimination is real, and can be economically devastating
  • A 2020 study in the scientific journal PLOS One analyzed economic data from over 3,500 Chinese adults and found that every additional centimeter of height was correlated with a 1.3% increase in a person's annual income. In Imperial units, this would mean that a 5' 6" person making $50,000 every year would earn an additional $2,000 for each extra inch of height.
  • PLOS One study found that genetic markers correlated with height were also linked to higher cognitive ability and a lack of depression, thereby revealing how a healthy early environment helps humans develop into their full potential in every way - including with their height.
  • Overall 32 of the 45 American presidents were taller than 5' 9". The average presidential height is 5' 11". Only three presidents - Martin Van Buren, Benjamin Harrison and James Madison - were 5' 6" or shorter. By contrast, nearly half of America's presidents (19) have been at least six feet tall, and all of the presidents who were shorter than 5' 9" were elected before the 20th century.
  • A massive body of scientific literature proves that when humans discriminate based on height, it is often because of a primal instinct which associates body size with leadership ability.
  • Researchers have found that height is associated with perceived masculinity and that men who said they were 6' 3" and 6' 4" received more responses on their dating apps than men who were described as 5' 7" and 5' 8"
SalonJan 2023
Leg-lengthening surgery still has risks, despite recent advances, and should be a last resort, surgeons say
Some views of cosmetic leg lengthening surgery in 2023.
Business InsiderJan 2023
Would you have your legs broken to make yourself taller? The men who go through hell for a little extra height
Leg lengthening surgery in the United Kingdom. Also includes interviews of Americans.
The GuardianNov 2022
I spent $100,000 on leg-lengthening surgery to help my career. It was unbelievably painful, but I have no regrets
Rich Rotella gained 3 inches of height with femur lengthening surgery with Dr Dror Paley of the Paley Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. He is already a few months into consolidation in this article.
Business InsiderNov 2022
I Wish I Was a Little Bit Taller
A radical and expensive surgery to grow anywhere from three to six inches. GQ goes inside the booming world of leg lengthening. Features Dr Kevin Debiparshad of the LimbplastX Institute in Las Vegas.
GQ MagazineSep 2022
The Internet Loves A Short King, But Height Bias On Dating Apps Is Still Very Common
Researchers found that height appeared to be correlated with the perception of masculinity. When it comes to dating apps, one study found that men who said they were 6'3" or 6'4" got about 60% more messages than men who were 5'7" or 5'8".
BuzzFeed NewsSep 2022
Height discrimination: How 'heightism' affects careers
More research on height discrimination, or heightism, in the workplace. Some new findings other than the old Malcolm Gladwell's book from 2005 about CEO's and height.
  • Research on systemic discrimination in hiring decisions has shown employers may reject shorter candidates even if their resume is similar to a taller applicant's, and they subconsciously associate positive workplace traits like confidence, competence, and physical ability with tallness.
  • There's also a gendered component. Research conducted by Inas R Kelly, professor of economics at Loyola Marymount University, California, revealed marked differences in the effect of height on mean income by gender. "White men face a much larger premium for each additional 10cm than white women," she says, and that gap is even more pronounced for African Americans.
BBCAug 2022
Are Taller People Really Better Off?
Newer video examining heightism. Also examines leg lengthening surgery.
VICE News (Video)Sep 2020
Chinese man, 22, faces permanent disabilities after receiving botched leg-lengthening surgery
Be careful, if you go to the wrong doctor or place, the results of leg lengthening surgery can be disastrous.
The GuardianSep 2020
Your Height Has A Big Impact On Your Salary. New Research Seeks To Understand Why
The height and income disparity is not just within the United States, it's all over the world. Research on the height and income disparity in China.
ForbesApr 2020
Why Trump likes to belittle 'Mini Mike' Bloomberg about his height
French journalist examines heightism in American and world politics.
Agence France-Presse (AFP)Feb 2020
Dating as a short man: The highs and lows
Real stories of short men in the dating scene. There are lots of hardships, but it's not all bad news.
BBCNov 2019
Why Height and Physical Stature Play a Role in American Politics
Analyzing the influence of height in U.S. Presidential elections.
ThoughtCo.comOct 2019
5 Reasons Why Women and Men Care About Height
Research reveals how height influences our romantic and professional lives.
Psychology TodaySep 2019
Survey: The taller you are, the more confident you feel at work
Study shows height affects confidence at work which can lead to higher salaries.
TheLadders.comNov 2018
Men with longer legs more attractive to women, say researchers
Longer legs make men more attractive to women because they are perceived to make fitter potential mates, researchers have found. But they must not be too long, just a little longer than average, because being lanky offers males no advantage in dating, the study from Cambridge University said.
IndependentMay 2018
Why many CEOs are tall people? The height of the matter
A survey of Fortune 500 CEO height revealed that they were on average 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) tall, which is approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) taller than the average American man.
Premium TimesMay 2016
Taller people are RICHER: Scientists find biggest leap in income takes place between 5'4" and 5'6" - but over 6' has no effect
Another article written by a different author using the same research in the May 2015 The Atlantic article.
DailyMailMay 2015
The Financial Perks of Being Tall
An extra inch correlates with an estimated $800 in increased annual earnings.
The AtlanticMay 2015
Why So Many Women Prefer Tall Men
Research on what is well known, why women prefer taller men for dates.
Psychology TodayJune 2013
Taller People Earn More Money
Research on the height and income disparity across the world - In Australia, Britain, and the United States.
LiveScienceJuly 2009
Size matters when it comes to money: Study finds tall men earn more
Research on the height and income disparity in Australia by the University of Sydney and the Australian National University in Canberra. It is more prevalent with men. It is less prevalent with women but still exists.
DailyMailMay 2009
Short and Male (S&M) Documentary Film (54 minutes)
Released in 2008. Documentary Film by Howard Goldberg aiming to highlight the difficulties faced by men of short stature.
Howard Goldberg2008
Short and Male (S&M) Documentary Film Extended Version (86 minutes)
32 minutes of extended footage of Short and Male that was not included in the 2008 release.
Howard GoldbergAfter 2008
20/20 Segment on Heightism Against Short Men
One of the earliest journalist stories on heightism against short men, particularly in the dating scene. Almost 30 years later, has anything improved? Most likely not.
20/201995