Cosmetic Surgery for the Feet

How often do you give your feet some much-needed love? From sneakers to high heels to business-appropriate shoes, your feet are asked to go through a lot on a daily basis. Sometimes your feet are covered up all day while other times they are displayed for the world to see. Even though cosmetic surgery for the feet is not the first thing that comes to mind when procedures are discussed, there are a variety of cosmetic foot surgeries available for your foot beautification needs. Let’s not waste any additional time tiptoeing around the subject. Here are some of the most popular “feet fixes” currently available.

Old School Foot Problems that need Surgery for the Feet

When it comes to issues with the feet, most people think of conditions that are viewed as problems that older people complain about on a daily basis. Some examples include:

• Bunions are a bony bump found by the big toe. Bunions can be a big problem if they get worse because it becomes more painful to walk in any style of shoes. This painful problem can be solved by a simple surgical procedure to remove them. The incision can be placed in an area that is not readily visible when wearing open-toe shoes.
• Warts are an area of thickened skin that is usually located between the toes or on the bottom of the foot. This viral menace can be removed by creams, laser surgery or freezing them with nitrogen.

More Advanced Issues that Need Cosmetic Surgery for the Feet

• Plantar Fasciitis – Great pain in the heel area is usually caused by an inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament that runs from the heel to the ball of the foot. Often associated with low arches and flat feet, there are various treatment options for this condition. The easier treatments include orthotics, stretching and cortisone injections in the heel. If the pain persists, other treatment options include endoscopic surgery and ShockWave therapy which treats the heel using sound waves.
• Cinderella Foot Surgery – Little girls often dream of growing up and being a princess. Many adult women are taking a step in that direction by having surgery on their feet so they can better fit in designer shoes. A few of the foot fixes available include toe-besity (making the toes slimmer with liposuction), toe shortening and foot narrowing.
• Hammertoe – This is a condition characterized by a toe joint bending into a claw-like position and not straightening by itself. If left untreated for too long, hammertoe can result in a loss of feeling in the toe. Thankfully, surgery can correct this problem by cutting (and then moving) the ligaments or tendons in the impacted area. In extreme hammertoe cases, the bones on either side of the joint have fused together. The doctor will then remove a small section of bone and install a pin to keep the toe in place.
• Toe Lengthening – What happens when your toes aren’t very long and wearing shoes isn’t a comfortable experience thanks to short toes? Doctors can release ligaments and then fuse a silicone implant to the bone. In turn, this stretches and extends the shorter toes to match the other members of the feet.
• Foot Augmentation – A foot augmentation procedure involves the use of dermal fillers which are introduced into the balls of the feet to provide relief from pain and reduce discomfort underneath the foot. When the foot is in a standing position, the metatarsal heads located around the ball of the foot are protected by a structure known as the fibro-fatty pad. As a person ages, this fibro-fatty pad diminishes which means the additional pressure placed on the feet during standing causes greater discomfort. This discomfort can become unbearable when wearing high-heeled shoes and even in flat shoes. The procedure begins with the administration of a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort during the injection of the dermal filler. After the anesthetic is applied, filler is injected into the area using ultra-fine needles. Foot cushioning with dermal fillers is the latest treatment being demanded by ladies who live for ‘killer heels’, made famous by shoe styles which require gravity-defying posture and puts significant pressure on the metatarsal bones within the foot. Hence, the desire for something to cushion the heels and make the wearing of shoes more comfortable.

Cosmetic Surgery for the Feet Word of Warning

While many people are happy to get what they perceive to be “foot fixes”, there are experts who warn against having procedures performed on the feet. These experts warn against having procedures performed for a variety of reasons including:

Surgery can’t make what the patient sees as an abnormal foot problem look completely normal so they’ll be left with a scar as well as expectations that were not met

Foot surgeries can serve as the foundation for other issues including chronic pain, infections, and nerve damage

Despite these warnings, cosmetic surgery on the feet continues to grow in popularity. Before undergoing any type of cosmetic foot surgery, patients need to consult with a board-certified doctor. An experienced professional can explain the risks and benefits as well as any potential downtime from the procedure. Having pretty feet is nice but patients need to take into account the amount of downtime that will keep them from walking, driving and handling everyday tasks.

- MA