One aspect of Cinderella’s story has been significantly under-reported over the last few centuries is the Evil Stepmother loved cosmetic foot surgery.
It all started the night of the Royal Ball when she saw Cinderella stumble through the front door, clutching a solitary glass slipper, leaving the other behind with the Prince.
When the Evil Stepmother learned that the Prince would marry the woman who fit into the glass slipper he found at the ball, she immediately ordered her two daughters to undergo cosmetic foot surgery.
One daughter had toe reduction surgery, a toe cosmetic surgery even though her toes never hurt her! The other daughter had liposuction on both feet, a painless and barely noticeable bunion removed. She also had pads of fat injected under her soles.
Of course, it made no difference because the Prince simply loved the person that Cinderella was. Or so the story goes.
Is there anything wrong with cosmetic foot surgery?
Cosmetic foot surgery and toe cosmetic surgery is a relatively new phenomenon and podiatrists nationwide report its increasing in popularity.
Patients are asking their doctors to both correct the superficial appearance of an otherwise healthy and functional foot as well as reshaping feet to better fit into ultra-fashionable (and often damaging) shoes.
But is there anything wrong with cosmetic foot surgery? In my opinion, and as a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, cosmetic foot surgery comes with significant risks and should be avoided.
I believe it is simply not appropriate for people with pain-free, well-functioning feet to undergo surgery.
Cosmetic foot surgery vs. corrective foot surgery. There’s a BIG difference
Nobody in their right mind should ever love you any less for something like your toe being a little longer than the norm. Now that is a simplistic example, but we see people wanting to fix “a problem” like this a lot.
It’s one thing to fix a bunion that hurts or a hammertoe that is causing structural damage to your foot. But as a practice, we feel that it’s inappropriate to have foot surgery so you can wear certain shoes.
Maybe if you are a model and it will stop you from making a living, then it makes sense. But even then, you must remember we are talking about having surgery. And all surgeries have risks.
Now I am a firm believer in allowing patients to decide what they want to do with their own bodies, so this is just my opinion. Well, let’s say it is my strong suggestion, and that is to stay away from surgical procedures on the foot unless there is pain or the loss of function is severe enough to interfere with your daily living. Surgery should be avoided whenever possible.
And this advice comes from a surgeon!
Non-surgical interventions are available that can alleviate most foot and ankle problems
Corrective foot surgery should only be considered as a last resort after all appropriate conservative treatment has been tried. Some cosmetic foot surgeons assert that cosmetic foot surgery is no different than facial plastic surgery.
But there’s a vital difference between the two. Your face does not have to support your full body weight, your feet do. This makes them a highly critical component in almost everything you do every single day. So even a minor negative surgical outcome can result in a lot of pain and consistent difficulty throughout life.
Please be very careful and choose wisely.
About University Foot and Ankle Institute
If you’re experiencing foot problems, we’re here to help. Our nationally recognized foot and ankle specialists offer the most advanced podiatric care and the highest success rates in the nation. We are leaders in the research and treatment of all foot and ankle conditions.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please call (877) 736-6001 or visit us at www.footankleinstitute.com.
Dr. Baravarian has been involved in athletics his entire life and played competitive tennis in high school and college. He has an interest in sports medicine, arthritis therapy and trauma/reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. He servers as a consultant to the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) tour, multiple running organizations and several shoe manufacturers. He is also fluent in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Farsi and Hebrew),
Podiatrist Dr. Bob Baravarian is available for consultation at the Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks and UCLA Westwood offices.
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