Have you ever wished you were just a few inches taller?
Enough of us have that a procedure that lengthens patients’ legs has been growing in popularity. In fact, it is performed on patients hundreds of times annually.
Earlier this spring, a California man became one of those patients. He went into his leg-lengthening procedure at 5’7, and he’s expected to be 5’10 by the time he fully recovers.
This is just one modern manifestation of our desires to change our appearance. Throughout history, humans have modified our bodies for a myriad of different reasons, from ornamentation to displays of status.
Each week on Something Offbeat, we take a look at headlines that you just can’t seem to get out of your head. This week, we couldn’t stop thinking about this leg-lengthening operation and the ways our body modification habits have changed with the ages.
Rebecca Lester, a professor of anthropology at Washington University in St. Louis, joined us on a journey into the history of humanity’s efforts to transform our bodies. Listen to find out where you fit in.
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