Pretty Feet At A Price

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

19 Apr 2007 12:02 PM

Honestly, I have never been fond of the way my feet look. I used to blame it on the fact that I participated in marathons ... and when my feet weren't pounding the pavement on daily runs they were being crammed in high-end heels as part of my not-so glamorous job as a television journalist. But, the truth is my feet were never pretty... even before I made them carry me 26.2 miles without stopping. However, I never contemplated "fixing" them with surgery.

Now, it seems I may be in the minority. Surgery (and vanity) has moved south--to one's toes. According to the National Podiatric Medical Association, the latest trend in elective surgery is "footlifts." Just in time for sandal season it seems an increasing amount of women are opting to get plastic surgery on their toes and soles.

Listen, to each her own, but I have some of the ugliest toes around and they haven't stopped me from wearing sandals, slippers or other open-toe shoes (maybe they should) and they certainly haven't made me consider going under the knife to make them look better. But, I can understand there are some women who have never dared to wear slippers to the beach because they were too self-conscious about their feet.

So what happens during a "footlift?" Doctors say it depends on the individual patient. In some cases feet are narrowed or toes are shortened. However, records show the most popular cosmetic foot surgery procedure is the "toe tuck." During the procedure doctors make a toe a little thinner so that it doesn't bother a patient while she is wearing sandals and they reconstruct the toe so it also looks a little bit nicer.

While some patients undergo the footlift for medical reasons, most podiatrist say fashion is definitely driving the trend--especially when they have patients come in with a certain type of sandal and say, 'Is there anything you can do to help me wear this?'"

Before you reach for the phone to make an appointment know this: some doctors say footlifts are a bad idea. In fact, some members of the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society are against cosmetic foot surgery citing potential risks, including complications from anesthesia, infections, and scarring, which can leave the foot deformed.

Also, keep in mind a footlift isn't cheap. The procedure run about $13,000 to $18,000 per foot! Work on just one toe averages about $1,500. And if a footlift is done for cosmetic reasons don't look for insurance to foot the bill.

Related Articles:

The Dangers of High Heels

Cold Hands (and Feet), Warm Heart

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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