October 25th 2024.
In his latest documentary, Ben Zand delved into the world of looksmaxxing. He followed the journey of LT, who underwent an intense leg lengthening surgery in order to gain three to four inches and reach the coveted height category of over 6ft. After spending four months at an orthopaedic clinic in Poland and paying a hefty price of £65,000, LT believes that this procedure will improve his opportunities in life by making people take him more seriously.
To achieve his goal, LT's surgeon broke two of the biggest bones in his skeleton and inserted a metal rod in his body. LT described the pain as a "boiling hot water sensation" and stated that it was even worse than what one could imagine. As part of his research for Channel 4's Untold: The Toxic World of Perfect Looks, Ben flew out to Warsaw to learn more about LT's decision to undergo such a extreme procedure.
The term "looksmaxxing" first originated in incel messaging boards in 2014 before becoming more prevalent on mainstream platforms like TikTok in the 2020s. It refers to men who are striving to enhance their appearance through extreme methods such as leg lengthening surgery, jawline enhancement using hammers, and fat reduction through aqualyx injections. After extensive conversations with LT and other anonymous men who have fallen into the looksmaxxing world, Ben gained insight into why they believe this will lead to a better life.
The idea that drives this corner of the internet is that there is a scientific formula for achieving the perfect life. According to this belief, if a man is the right height, has a defined jawline, a muscular body, and a certain eye shape, women will be automatically attracted to him and success will come easily. There is also a racist element to this ideology, with European white being considered the superior skin color. Personality is deemed irrelevant in this pursuit of perfection.
As a filmmaker, Ben always strives to understand different perspectives, regardless of his own views. He found that these men, usually in their early twenties, are simply searching for happiness. They want to find love and that is a normal desire. "I can connect with that. I understand how it begins," Ben stated. "They just happened to stumble upon the wrong forum and the world of looksmaxxing led them down a dangerous path."
Ben was impacted in an unexpected way when he allowed a looksmaxxer to edit his photo to show how he could "improve" his appearance. He was surprised by how much it affected him and deepened his understanding of how men can get caught up in this world. "As a kid, I used to hate my nose, but I learned to accept my appearance and everything has been fine. I didn't think it would bother me, but then the guy started pointing out all my flaws," Ben recalled with a laugh. "It made me start to fixate on it, which just shows how powerful this mindset can be. Once you start focusing on these tiny imperfections, it's hard to not see them and feel the need to change them. I can totally see how easy it is for people to get caught up in it."
Leg lengthening surgeries are still relatively uncommon, but their popularity is on the rise. Hundreds of people undergo this invasive procedure each year at private clinics around the world. "The leg-lengthening aspect of looksmaxxing is wild for multiple reasons. It's expensive and one of the most serious surgeries," Ben explained. The cost of the procedure can range from £15,000 to £150,000.
To achieve the desired height, a surgeon will make incisions in the leg and break the bone in two. A rod and pins are then inserted, and a device slowly moves the bone apart. "All of this for just a few inches in height. There's no guarantee of full recovery or the ability to walk properly again. It's very risky," Ben stated. The recovery process takes around six months. Despite the dangers, men like LT believe that the potential benefits of increased business opportunities, higher income, and attracting women outweigh the risks.
Alex, who underwent the surgery and grew from 5ft7 to 5ft10, feels more confident now, but he also believes that no one should feel the need to go through such extreme measures. "It's society's view of shortness that needs to change," he stated. Daniel Farbod, who stands at 5ft7, felt suicidal because of his height and turned to a specialist clinic in Turkey for the surgery. "I think it's important for others to know how tough the surgery and recovery is. It was the hardest thing I've ever done, but it changed my life both physically and metaphorically," he shared with Independent.
After the surgery, Daniel was left wheelchair-bound, a consequence he was aware of beforehand. The recovery took longer than expected due to complications, and it was months before he could stand up again. "I went through sleepless nights, trauma, and upset, but I finally achieved my goal of being 5ft10," he said. However, not all leg lengthening surgeries have a happy ending. Elaine Foo, who stands at 5ft2, had the surgery to add three inches to her height, but it went terribly wrong. The nail in her left leg broke through her femur, leading to a curved spine and constant pain. She has undergone multiple surgeries and bone grafts, but she is still recovering from the ordeal. "Taller means better. Taller means more beautiful. I just felt that taller people had more chances," she explained.
When asked if she would have gone through with the surgery knowing the outcome, Elaine replied, "Absolutely not." Ben found it difficult to convince the men he met that there is another truth and that their pursuit of perfection is not the answer. Their distrust of mainstream media made it a frustrating experience for him.
In his latest documentary, filmmaker Ben Zand dives into the world of "looksmaxxing," a growing trend that focuses on maximizing one's physical appearance. One of the subjects of his film, known only as "LT," has recently undergone a controversial leg lengthening surgery and is slowly learning to walk again. LT spent four months at an orthopaedic clinic in Poland to achieve his desired height of over 6 feet, and the procedure cost him a whopping £65,000. He firmly believes that this transformation will open up more opportunities for him and earn him more respect from others.
To reach his goal, LT's surgeon had to break and insert a metal rod in his leg bones, causing excruciating pain. LT himself describes it as a "boiling hot water sensation," and he insists that the actual experience was 100 times worse than anything he had imagined. Ben Zand flew to Warsaw to meet with LT and understand his reasons for undergoing such a drastic procedure. This was all part of his research for a Channel 4 documentary called "Untold: The Toxic World of Perfect Looks," which delves into the world of looksmaxxing.
The term "looksmaxxing" was first used on incel messaging boards in 2014, but it has since spread to more mainstream platforms like TikTok in the 2020s. It refers to men who go to great lengths to improve their physical appearance, often resorting to extreme methods. This can include leg lengthening surgery, facial reconstruction using hammers, and injecting fat-reducing substances into their faces. After speaking with LT and other men who have fallen into the looksmaxxing world, Ben came to understand why they believe that their lives will improve through these drastic transformations.
The focus on leg lengthening surgery in the looksmaxxing community is one aspect that continues to shock Ben. He explains that this procedure is not only incredibly expensive but also very dangerous. Surgeons have to break the leg bones and insert rods and pins, leaving the patient at risk of never being able to walk again. Despite the risks, hundreds of people undergo this surgery every year, driven by the belief that gaining a few inches in height will lead to better business opportunities, more money, and increased success with women.
Ben also spoke with Alex, who underwent the same surgery and went from 5ft7 to 5ft10. While he admits to feeling more confident after the procedure, he also believes that no one should feel the need to undergo such drastic measures. He argues that society's view of shortness needs to change, rather than people resorting to extreme surgeries to fit a certain standard.
Other men, like Daniel Farbod and Elaine Foo, have also undergone leg lengthening surgery with mixed results. Daniel, who stands at 5ft7, was driven to the brink of suicide because of his height and saw the surgery as a life-changing opportunity. However, the recovery process was long and painful, and he was left wheelchair-bound for months. Similarly, Elaine, who wanted to add three inches to her 5ft2 frame, ended up with a broken bone and a curved spine, causing her ongoing pain and mobility issues. Both Daniel and Elaine are still recovering from their surgeries and warn others against undergoing such drastic procedures.
As a documentary filmmaker, Ben's goal is to understand people's perspectives, regardless of their beliefs. He found himself trying to convince the men he met that there is more to life than just physical appearance, but their distrust of mainstream media made it a challenging and frustrating experience. In the end, Ben hopes that his documentary will shed light on the dangers and misguided beliefs behind the looksmaxxing trend and encourage people to embrace their natural appearances.
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