Height is primarily determined by genetics, and final stature is fixed once the skeleton reaches maturity. Achieving a permanent, substantial reduction in height after the body has finished growing is extremely difficult and not a natural process. While minor, temporary height changes occur daily, altering the fixed structure of the adult body requires extreme intervention.
The Biological Limits of Adult Height
Human longitudinal growth is governed by endochondral ossification. This process occurs at specialized structures called epiphyseal plates, or growth plates, located near the ends of long bones like the femur and tibia. These plates contain cartilage cells that constantly divide, pushing older cells inward where they calcify and turn into hard bone tissue.
This process drives height increase throughout childhood and adolescence. During late puberty, hormonal signals trigger epiphyseal fusion, also known as growth plate closure. The cartilage within the plates is completely replaced by bone, leaving behind a thin epiphyseal line.
Once fusion is complete—typically between the ages of 16 and 20—the long bones can no longer lengthen. At this point, skeletal height is biologically fixed and cannot be naturally increased or significantly decreased.
Factors That Can Affect Measured or Perceived Height
Although fixed skeletal height cannot be changed naturally, a person’s measured height fluctuates slightly throughout the day due to spinal changes. This phenomenon, known as diurnal variation, is caused by the compression of the intervertebral discs. These discs act as cushions between the vertebrae.
Throughout the day, gravity and body weight expel fluid from the discs, causing them to temporarily lose volume and compress. This compression leads to a measurable height loss of approximately 17 to 18 millimeters (around 0.7 inches) between morning and evening. During sleep, the spine decompresses, and the discs rehydrate, restoring the lost height by the next morning.
Minor, non-permanent changes can also be achieved through posture. Slouching temporarily reduces measured height, while correcting poor posture reveals maximum stature. Furthermore, perceived height can be altered by external factors, such as wearing flat footwear instead of thick-soled shoes. Over a longer timeframe, natural aging and conditions like osteoporosis can cause irreversible height loss as vertebral bones compress or fracture.
Extreme Medical Interventions for Height Reduction
For adults who have reached their fixed height, the only way to achieve a significant, permanent reduction is through highly invasive medical procedures. This is typically bone shortening surgery, which is generally reserved for correcting severe leg length discrepancies. The procedure involves surgically removing a segment of bone, usually from the femur or tibia, and joining the remaining ends with plates or rods.
This surgery is complex and carries substantial risks, including infection, nerve damage, chronic pain, and nonunion, where the cut bone ends fail to fuse. It also alters joint biomechanics, potentially leading to stiffness, muscle imbalance, and long-term walking difficulties. Due to the high complication rate and severity, this procedure is rarely performed purely for cosmetic height reduction.