We have all been there: you find your dream pair of shoes, on sale, last pair…and they are a size too small. Any rational person would put them back on the shelf and console themselves with some fro-yo, but that’s apparently not enough for a new breed of women who are instead opting for “Cinderella surgery”. Foot altering plastic surgery, that trims the toes and heightens the heels. Yes, it’s a thing.
We spoke to Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Peter Geldner to try and understand what is driving this trend, and what the very real risks are when you alter essential body parts. According to Dr. Geldner, these elective foot altering plastic surgery procedures include everything from the minimal, such as botox injections in the feet to make high heeled shoes more comfortable, to more intensive procedures that shorten or lengthen the toe bones for an aesthetic improvement.
Dr. Geldner says that any shaping of the bones in the feet will be subject to swelling and bruising, as with any surgical procedure. However, foot procedures are especially difficult because patients must stay off of their feet for days until everything has healed and patients do not always have the patience to do so. Further to that, he adds that toes help with supporting weight and balancing the body during movement. Opting for surgery due to cosmetic reasons can throw off that balance and will redistribute the weight. This may lead to arthritic problems in the future. Frankly, that sounds pretty painful.
Having the last word on this matter, Dr. Geldner says, “If I had a patient come to me with a specific pair of shoes in mind with the request for surgery to make the shoe fit, I’d suggest opting for a new pair of shoes!” We completely agree!
