Dr Franz Birkholtz (Pretoria, South Africa)

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Dr.B does't do LL anymore.

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^I also Read that in another thread. He doesnt do CLL anymore but not sure If true

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2018-10-15
Dear Prospective Patient,
After long hours of contemplation and soul-searching, I have decided not to offer Cosmetic Limb Lengthening at my
practice anymore. This may come as a shock to some of you and certainly will derail a lot of plans.
The decision was not taken lightly. The overriding reason for my decision is that it has become clear to me (based on
the complications I see from elsewhere), that the risk-benefit ratio of CLL swings firmly to the ‘risk’ side. In other
words, the potential complications are not worth the risk of permanent functional impairment. For this reason I can not
ethically continue to offer this surgery.
Ironically, once a complication is present, I can get involved morally, as this type of complication correction surgery
makes up the bulk of my work and here I can provide effective solutions for difficult problems. This swings the ethical
risk-benefit equation into the other direction.
My patients’ best interest and safety come first and for this reason the decision was taken and is also a final
decision. I will ask you to please respect this decision and also refrain from endless engagements and discussions
on online platforms, social media etc.
If, after weighing all the risks and benefits and you are still keen on pursuing CLL, PLEASE choose an ethical doctor
and choose someone with a solid track record, not only in CLL, but also in management of complications.
With my best regards,
Dr FF Birkholtz
2018-10-15

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Is this real? Can Dr. Frank himself come and tell this?

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It's true. You can send email to Dr.b's assistant([email protected]).

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Hi Everyone,

This is true and I believe the letter is self-explanatory. My apologies for inconvenience caused.

Good luck on your journey.

FFB

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Sir,
 Thanks for the reply.
 If you could please tell the reason a bit more, would be so helpful for the prospective candidates.
In other words did you take the decision as you came to know about some unforeseen side effects of CLL which you were previously not aware of?
 Or some sudden incident which caused you to take this?
 Or is it a  completely different reason?

But I guess it just can't be sudden change in mindset as you have successfully defended your choice by saying it's unethical to not do it than to do it as people will anyway get it done through some unqualified doctor. Also you were so active in replying to queries and were even assuring people that surgery has become less risky in last 5 years(So it should be more so after the invention of Stryde.)

Sir, for a prospective patient, it is vital to know why such a great doctor, who actually spearheaded CLL in a whole  continent, backs off completely from the surgery and that too suddenly? Is there any bitter surprise in the offing for the people who are undergoing/planning to undergo through the surgery?

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Brave decision and to be honest probably the correct one too.

Look at what we, the LL community, have become. The entire purpose of this community is to provide safe height increase for those of us who struggle with height dysphoria.
But if you go to the Diaries section of this forum its infested with people lured into crappy surgeons. Diary writers stop posting as soon as complication occurs and just disappears.

These warnings falls on deaf ears as a new wave of members arrive, going to the same doctors with same outcomes. Its really sad. Atleast with the old forum we held doctors accountable before Apo/sysop took over. People went to Beijing, yes it was risky but we didnt have bad outcomes like today. This was for 10+ years ago!
As soon as apo took over he introducted  ty butcheres like Dr. Sarin who made several patients cripple.

So this forum was created by people revolting to avoid such situations, and guess what. The same people (Sweden, 4cms etc) keep promoting the same doctor. Hiding and ignoring the sad sad devastating cases of the old patients.

This forum being unmoderated has created a climate for fake diaries, scammers and promoters.
 e like Dr. parihar, Dr. srigari, dr.sarin, dr. solomin, dr. bagirov, dr. abu jamar, dr. salameh, dr.monegal (he only seems to fk up tibia, not femur though)  + ++ the list is endless, should be all blocked and banned from this forum. every fking diary of these savages should be deleted.

When are we going to tell the newcomers on this forum that "its better to be short, than cripple"? Either save up money for proper surgeons or dont do it at all. Instead we promote LL at any cost. Some people even asking if they can do LL with $8000 budget? everyone knows how the story ends, but to my surprise what I see is other members recommending cheap crap surgeons in India and Russia. The blood is on your hand aswell.

Dr. Birkholtz, a respected surgeon, or for that sake any surgeon would not be wanted to be associated with the toxic culture we have going on here.

I salute you Birkholtz, you are well and truly a man worthy of the title surgeon. May you fix limb deformities for those people who cant even function properly. These are the people who need help!

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fk YOU Dr B

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Quote from: totallyred on November 14, 2018, 08:57:32 PMSir,
 Thanks for the reply.
 If you could please tell the reason a bit more, would be so helpful for the prospective candidates.
In other words did you take the decision as you came to know about some unforeseen side effects of CLL which you were previously not aware of?
 Or some sudden incident which caused you to take this?
 Or is it a  completely different reason?

But I guess it just can't be sudden change in mindset as you have successfully defended your choice by saying it's unethical to not do it than to do it as people will anyway get it done through some unqualified doctor. Also you were so active in replying to queries and were even assuring people that surgery has become less risky in last 5 years(So it should be more so after the invention of Stryde.)

Sir, for a prospective patient, it is vital to know why such a great doctor, who actually spearheaded CLL in a whole  continent, backs off completely from the surgery and that too suddenly? Is there any bitter surprise in the offing for the people who are undergoing/planning to undergo through the surgery?

Still waiting for your reply doctor. Please reply. It would be most helpful act one can do to any prospective candidate.