How Much Width Can Be Achieved In Shoulder Lengthening?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I’ve been researching plastic surgery for the past couple of months and I’m considering getting several facial procedures done. Recently my eye was caught by clavicle lengthening. My narrow shoulders have been pointed out to me for as long as I can remember and have solidified themselves as a pretty big insecurity. I am 6′ tall with a shoulder width of 16-16.5″ bone to bone. In theory, it sounds amazing, but I have a couple of questions. Would I be able to reach a width of 18″? It’s a bit of an arbitrary number, but I feel like I’d be content with less , as long as I look more proportionate. Since a V-Taper is sought after in bodybuilding, could shoulder widening make it more pronounced? With the shoulder being formed by the clavicle and scapula, how does clavicle lengthening affect the scapula? Does it get pulled alongside the clavicle and could it look unnatural if it’s lengthened too much? Is the clavicles strength permanently compromised after the surgery?

A: These are all great questions in regards to the shoulder lengthening by clavicular expansion osteotomies to which I can say the following:

1) The average in shoulder width by lengthening osteotomies is about 1 ¼ to 1/1/2 inch collectively. (both sides) So going from 16 inchs to 18 inches is not going to occur from the surgery.

2) I think the primary effect of shoulder lengthening is that it makes the shoulders more square in appearance. That effect is more obvious than being wider.

3) Shoulder lengthenng is ultimately restricted by the scapula and its soft tissue attachments. Thus teh scapula is not lengthened or changed in position of any significance. It is the reason that shoulder lengthening can be more than it is.

4) Once fully healed the bone strength should be normal biut that takes a while to get there. (up to 6 months) Of course of one never removes the fixation plate the combined plate-bone unit is more resistant to fracture than the natural bone.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon