I just saw a story on the news regarding cosmetic foot surgery. It's the 2nd one I've seen in the past week or so.
The first one wasn't very precise and I came away wondering exactly what kind of surgeries these women were having. However, the story I saw tonight was about this young woman who wanted to be able to wear the latest shoe styles, but she couldn't because of wide feet. They showed her sitting in the Dr office with both feet in a whirlpool.
Then they cut away to the surgeon who started explaining bunion and hammertoe surgery.
It turns out that this woman had bunion surgery, but apparently only because she wanted to be able to wear fashionable, pointy-toe shoes. Then she said that she was able to start wearing high heels two weeks after surgery.
I'm wondering how long it will be before she needs surgery again.

Oh! I remember something about the first story. It mentioned botox injections and I think collagen injections in the ball of the foot to make high heels more comfortable since so much of your weight is carried on the ball of your foot.

I haven't worn high heels in years and I don't miss them, but then, I'm not a dress up kind of girl.
I'm curious...how many of you would be willing to undergo cosmetic procedures just so you could wear heels?


Janet (BigBad)

Well, I know I wouldn't go through this simply for vanity's sake. But is it awful for me to admit that I like the way my feet are so pretty and straight now? (And if you squint just the right way, the scars practically disappear!). I've been following the news lately as well. They put either collagen or your own butt fat into the balls of your feet to cushion them for high heels. As well as bunion surgery, women are having their middle toes shortened to fit into shoes (kinda reminds me of that particularly gruesome version of Cinderella where the ugly stepsisters slice pieces of their feet off to fit into the glass slipper). Well anyway, pre-surgery I could fit perfectly into the pointiest shoes imaginable because my big toes were at such an angle that my feet came to a point anyway. And although I was screaming in pain after an hour, they looked great (as long as I never took my shoes off <shudder>). I don't even know if my feet will fit in high heels anymore, but you can bet I'll try for very special occasions. Occasionally. For a half hour or so. Maybe.

Linda

Never ever ever!! I agree that heels are fashionable, but they are horrible for your body! They are hard on the feet, knees, and back. Not to mention how easy it is turn turn and snap your ankle while wearing them. Give me some comfy sneakers any day! ;)

I'm curious...how many of you would be willing to undergo cosmetic procedures just so you could wear heels?


I would have to admit that I will get my left foot done in another years time just so they 'match' as it doesnt really give me any trouble (apart from the bony ugly) I always wanted my bunions removed from the age of 13 but told myself to wait until they hurt. Once I started to get too much pain in my foot, I actually got ... (hate to admit it) .... excited because I knew that I could finally have pretty and functional feet ... or foot at this stage. ;)

I would NEVER elect to have cosmetic surgery on my feet for vanity's sake, either. You never know if there will be complications from a surgery, and then you'll be wishing you never had the procedure done.

As far as collagen or fat injections to build up the balls of your feet, I have researched and have spoken to 2 podiatrists about the injections because an area of fat pad on the ball of my left foot is atrophied (thinned out) due to 2 cortisone injections. Well, the bad news is that the collagen and fat injections are only temporary. Fat injections do not stay in place because the natural fat layer is held in place by fibrous tissue often referred to a septae, and any fat injected there will migrate. Collagen injections in the balls of the feet are VERY expensive! I've seen a TV program in which a well-known NY podiatrist injects collagen to add cushioning, but she never stated how long this collagen lasts (my podiatrists told me it lasts about 2 weeks). I was quite disappointed to learn that the injections are only temporary as I need a permanent fix for my problem. So one solution would be to buy inserts for shoes or padding that you wear on the balls of your feet to help add cushioning.

If anyone has had the collagen injections in their feet, please let us know how much it cost and how long the injections lasted.

Nope, I'd never have gone thru this agony just to make my feet slim & pretty. I thought they looked OK with the bunions! (but they were starting to hurt). The highest heel I've worn since surgery 4 months ago is about 1" sandal with elastic bands across the instep & toes & they were NOT cozy comfortable. I can't imagine padding the ball of my foot any more. It's already so swollen it feels like I'm walking on a golf ball. I measured my foot today (around the forefoot area). It's almost 9" around. My other foot is 8.25". So it's true that my foot is too swollen for most of my shoes, even with elastic. Think I'll stick to athletic shoes.

Oh my! I guess I have been missing this in the news. I could never have foot surgery just to fit into a certain type shoe. Now that I have taken care of one bunion, I find myself lecturing random women about the dangers of the pointed shoes and high heels. My plan after all the recovery, I will only wear high heels when absolutly necessary. And every car ride, bathroom break or whatever those heels will come off. Does anyone else find themselves looking at other people's feet to see what normal feet look like? Oh, and as far as the pointed toe shoes, never never again. I bought a great pair of pointed toe boots this past fall, wore them everywhere and within two months I was having horrible bunion pain. (I didn't even know I had bunions until those boots!)

I agree with everyone else who has gone through bunion surgery.I would never consider surgery just for looks(feet).Of coarse I was never a heel person anyway.So where the heck did these terrible feet come from.LOL It is funny that you ask"does anyone else look at others feet" I went on a cruise back in Feb.and I looked at every womans feet, what a mess I saw.Then to see them put heels on over those terrible,painful looking feet. Must be they could not of been in any pain.I would never of looked at anyone elses feet until I had these surgeries on my own feet. Just a habbit I guess.
Well I hope you all are healing well. :bouncing:
Sue

I agree with everyone else who has gone through bunion surgery.I would never consider surgery just for looks(feet).Of coarse I was never a heel person anyway.So where the heck did these terrible feet come from.LOL It is funny that you ask"does anyone else look at others feet" I went on a cruise back in Feb.and I looked at every womans feet, what a mess I saw.Then to see them put heels on over those terrible,painful looking feet. Must be they could not of been in any pain.I would never of looked at anyone elses feet until I had these surgeries on my own feet. Just a habbit I guess.
Well I hope you all are healing well. :bouncing:
Sue

I too have always looked at womens feet since mine are so bad and I found just the opposite of you-----I walked on the beach in Cancun in Jan and was amazed at how great everyones feet looked----all their toes were flat!! I have never had that---well, maybe I will now on one foot!

Hi All,

I just want to say that "Beautiful shoes create painful feet" I see so many women wearing shoes that are beautiful to look at but they are the most uncomfortable shoes to wear. Look at their faces when they walk a few blocks, believe me they are in agony.. I have been there.

Personally, I never buy a shoe more than 2 inches high. I am short so who am I going to fool by trying to be taller. Secondly, you cannot go very far in those shoes, you either get stuck in a crack in the sidewalk, twist your ankle and end up with painful feet by the end of a long day at work...

It is not worth the agony....
Just my .08cents
CJ Bermuda...

About staring at other people's feet - I do it all the time, and I used to be envious. For the longest time, I thought my feet were normal - they looked like my mother's, and doesn't everyone hate their feet? It wasn't until about ten years ago that I learned there was actually a name for my deformity, bunions. That's when the pain got excruciating, too. For yeeeears I wouldn't wear sandals, and I covered my feet every chance I got (it doesn't help that I have feet like a Greek statue - narrow with loooong toes). So now I look at others' feet whenever I can, and I obsessively check out feet on the Hollywood red carpets because they all wear high, strappy sandals. And yes, the collagen injections are expensive and don't last, but if I was Catherine Zeta-Jones, I would spend $500 to be able to wear 4" heels to the Oscars. (By the way, I was flipping through Oprah the other day and she was trying on a new pair of boots - bunions as bad as mine! I guess she simply can't afford the time off to fix them).

I will wear high heels again, because I like them and because I have to for work sometimes, but it will be for short hours (4 max) and not very often (1 or two times a month). Just like most vices, everything in moderation. Of course, if I get achy pain, or see my big toe deviating, then no more. It would be nice if high heels were eradicated from the planet, and our patriachal society didn't insist upon the hobbling of women, but I have too many other things to worry about without endeavouring to change fashion in my lifetime. (And besides, Prince wears high heels, You go, girl!).

My two cents (again), but then again, I'm fascinated with how, and why, people (and bodies) get to be the way they are.

L.

About staring at other people's feet - I do it all the time, and I used to be envious. For the longest time, I thought my feet were normal - they looked like my mother's, and doesn't everyone hate their feet? It wasn't until about ten years ago that I learned there was actually a name for my deformity, bunions. That's when the pain got excruciating, too. For yeeeears I wouldn't wear sandals, and I covered my feet every chance I got (it doesn't help that I have feet like a Greek statue - narrow with loooong toes). So now I look at others' feet whenever I can, and I obsessively check out feet on the Hollywood red carpets because they all wear high, strappy sandals. And yes, the collagen injections are expensive and don't last, but if I was Catherine Zeta-Jones, I would spend $500 to be able to wear 4" heels to the Oscars. (By the way, I was flipping through Oprah the other day and she was trying on a new pair of boots - bunions as bad as mine! I guess she simply can't afford the time off to fix them).

I will wear high heels again, because I like them and because I have to for work sometimes, but it will be for short hours (4 max) and not very often (1 or two times a month). Just like most vices, everything in moderation. Of course, if I get achy pain, or see my big toe deviating, then no more. It would be nice if high heels were eradicated from the planet, and our patriachal society didn't insist upon the hobbling of women, but I have too many other things to worry about without endeavouring to change fashion in my lifetime. (And besides, Prince wears high heels, You go, girl!).

My two cents (again), but then again, I'm fascinated with how, and why, people (and bodies) get to be the way they are.

L.

I'm really enjoying this thread because of my horrible feet bunions AND hammertoes I love looking at good feet. Which issue of Oprah had her picture w/bunions---I want to look that up. saw a picture of Mother Theresa's feet once and they were the worst bunions ever---that picture was in a podiatrist's office I went to once. Movie Stars are a mystery to me because they are ntorious for high heels and they ALL seem to have great feet. Anyone else notice?

I will wear high heels again, because I like them and because I have to for work sometimes

Ok..I've never been a high heel lover, but does anyone else just find this WRONG?? It's no secret that heels can cause foot, knee and back problems.

So someone is required to wear heels for work... just seems unethical to me. But then that same employer would probably not be enthusiastic about giving time off for bunion surgery.. Depending on a woman's career, so has to cause damage to her feet to have the right appearance? Just one of the many societial rules we have that make me groan.

Ok..I've never been a high heel lover, but does anyone else just find this WRONG?? It's no secret that heels can cause foot, knee and back problems.

So someone is required to wear heels for work... just seems unethical to me. But then that same employer would probably not be enthusiastic about giving time off for bunion surgery.. Depending on a woman's career, so has to cause damage to her feet to have the right appearance? Just one of the many societial rules we have that make me groan.

I'm an actress and dancer and yes, on occasion I wear heels for a role or for an audition. No one makes me wear them, but sometimes I do. The important thing about it is that I choose to put myself through this (I perform stuff I write myself, so don't think I'm at the mercy of evil producers). I don't even like wearing a tight waistband on a skirt, I'm always hyper-aware of comfort. People do lots of things they find uncomfortable in order to work, and I'm darn glad I don't have to be on my feet 8 hours a day as a nurse or waitress or Wal-Mart stock clerk. I'm sure that causes far more pain and damage than anything I do.

Ann - the shot of Oprah was on her show, I don't know if you'd find any pictures. :)

Be well, all!

L.

I'm an actress and dancer and yes, on occasion I wear heels for a role or for an audition. No one makes me wear them, but sometimes I do. The important thing about it is that I choose to put myself through this (I perform stuff I write myself, so don't think I'm at the mercy of evil producers). I don't even like wearing a tight waistband on a skirt, I'm always hyper-aware of comfort. People do lots of things they find uncomfortable in order to work, and I'm darn glad I don't have to be on my feet 8 hours a day as a nurse or waitress or Wal-Mart stock clerk. I'm sure that causes far more pain and damage than anything I do.

Ann - the shot of Oprah was on her show, I don't know if you'd find any pictures. :)

Be well, all!

L.

Hi L

I noticed you said you are a dancer and I am wondering if that contributed to your bunions-----I have always noticed so many dancers w/bunions. I don't know your foot problems-----did you have bunion surgery on one foot or both????

Hi Ann. I don't know if dance contributed to my bunions or (believe it or not) helped. My parents placed me in ballet class when I was four because of my totally flat feet. I have a photo of me in my ballet shoes at age 7, and my ankles are rolled in and I'm practically standing on the insides of my feet. Many years of ballet later, my ankles and calves grew strong enough to hold my feet in a somewhat normal position, but it was always an effort, not to say tiring. My balance has always been poor. I was put in pointe for a few years, but I stopped that eventually. I'm sure they did nothing good for my bunions. I left dance alone until my teens, when I started modern in bare feet. Contributed I'm sure, but it kept the compensatory muscles strong. Then was tap (not good) and about ten years ago I started ballroom dance (in 2" heels). That was when I was diagnosed with bunions and arthritis (my 30s), although I had had pain since my teens. I think all and all it was a long, gradual process, and in my opinion I would have landed here eventually, dance or no. I have probably worn heels for less than 5% of my waking life. (Scratch that - 2%) Genetics and gravity got me.

I had two bunion surgeries in 2001/2002 that were done poorly and I had to change doctors to get satisfaction (haven't done much dancing or anything since then). I had a Lapidus procedure on my right last month, which my ortho said should have been done in the first place. Now that my metatarsal is fused, I don't think there'll be any be any more problems. We will wait and see what we should do next.

I will probably never dance ballroom again, which I really regret because I love it, but I don't want to cause any further damage. It really is impossible to dance in flats because it puts the balance all off (not to mention makes me too short for most partners). Ironically, my feet are probably more stable now than they've been my entire life and could withstand the abuse. Oh well.

Thought: did women start wearing heels two millenia ago so they could look men in the eye and not feel "smaller"?

Anyway, thanks for asking and sorry I've gone on so. As I said, cause and effect are always fascinating to me.

Ciao,
Linda

first of all, i totally agree that heels are painful/bad for you, etc....so i don't want anyone who reads this post to think i'm encouraging them to wear heels or anything....but i found this blurb about bunions on my doctor's website, and thought it was interesting...and it did confirm what i had kind of suspected...because first of all, i hardly ever wear/wore heels (because i'm so tall) - i spend about 90% of my time in sneakers and i STILL got bunions! my sister, on the hand, wears heels all the time, and her feet still look perfect! so unless my sneakers were very wrongly made, it's not very convincing that shoes are the only contributors to this problem... i think it's when those of us pre-disposed to bunions start wearing heels it just accelerates the process... fyi- my doctor told me that the chance of this recurring after my surgery is close to nil...i guess it depends on how far up the foot they make the cut.. just wondering - what did other people's doctors say about bunion recurrence?



Cause of Bunion Deformity

Bunions form when the normal balance of forces that is exerted on the joints and tendons of the foot becomes disrupted. This can lead to instability in the joint and cause the deformity., our shoes, or other sources.

Although bunions tend to run in families, it is the foot type that is passed down-not the bunion. Parents who suffer from poor foot mechanics can pass their problematic foot type on to their children, who, in turn, are also prone to developing bunions. The abnormal functioning caused by this faulty foot development can lead to pressure being exerted on and within the foot, often resulting in bone and joint deformities such as bunions and hammertoes.

Shoes are often blamed for creating these problems. This, however, is inaccurate. It has been noted that primitive tribes where going barefoot is the norm will also develop bunions. Bunions develop from abnormal foot structure and mechanics (e.g. excessive pronation), which place an undue load on the 1st metatarsal. They are brought about by years of abnormal motion and pressure. They are, therefore, a symptom of faulty foot development and are usually caused by the way we walk and our inherited foot type. This leads to stretching of supporting soft tissue structures such as joint capsules and ligaments with the end result being gradual deviation of the 1st metatarsal. As the deformity increases, there is an abnormal pull of certain tendons, which leads to the drifting of the great toe toward the 2nd toe. At this stage, there is also adaptation of the joint itself that occurs.

This is such an interesting thread! There is NO WAY I would go through this just for nicer looking feet! It is a benefit of the surgery, but would have never done it if I wasn't in constant pain!!

My doctor told me that the chance of my bunions reforming are extremely slim. He actually said, there is a 99% chance that they will never come back, no matter what type of shoes I wear.

I had my double bunionectomy on Jan 8th, and am starting to feel pretty good. I still have a little pain and swelling at times, but it isn't too bad at all. I don't have any problems getting around, and have even wore heels a couple times, for a short time.
I did go to the zoo a few days ago, and after about 4 hours of walking in my tennis shoes, my feet were pretty swollen and sore. I wonder if I am going to be able to play softball this summer.....I don't know if I could really run yet....I haven't tried because I am still too scared! I hope you all are healing well!

Mandy

Hi BigBadFeet and everyone,
I'm new to these boards and am just at the research stage but I have to say
something and hope that someone can help. I've got arthritic changes in my feet that look just like the "before" pictures on the websites of surgeons who are famous for fixing these problems. The bunions, hammertoes and heel spurs hurt like crazy and have for several years after a lifetime of dancing on them through injury, like most dance teachers. I've been unable to find shoes that fit, including my own from last year, can't walk far and can't work out because I trip over my twisted pinkie toes. When I found the website of one of the two most famous NYC surgeons, I actually cried. I had no idea these things could be fixed! I contacted the doctor and he emailed me back immediately with the name of a collegue in Boston to take pictures of my feet and do an initial exam. I did that, then called the NY office. They were great. They gave me an appointment and the nurse said the doctor would first speak to the local doctor and call me at home. He called me as promised, and asked what he could do for me. I told him my situation and, suddenly, it all changed. He said he couldn't help me if I had painful feet and I should have surgery done by my local doctor who was "every bit as qualified" as he was. I asked him why, and again said that my feet were exactly like the ones on his website that he's famous for repairing. And he said to me, in an irritated tone, "the people on my website didn't have any pain, that was just cosmetic." Now, am I to believe that bunions, hammertoes and corns don't hurt? Not only that, but the doctor's whole attitude changed. He became sarcastic, verging on nasty. Can anyone tell me why I was rejected for saying my feet hurt? There's one other "famous" doctor in NYC and I'm going to try her, next. But I wish I could find a doctor in the Boston area who isn't too conservative to fix my feet. I don't need to wear stiletto heels or anything, but it would be great to be able to walk in something...at this point, even Uggs hurt. Apologies for the long post, but I needed to tell someone! Can anyone please, please recommend a surgeon in Boston and explain to me what was up with the "famous"doctor in NY?

elphie,
Wow, I have never heard of such a thing! That sounds pretty crazy to me.Usually any of the Doctors that I have ever dealt with only perform surgery if there is pain. I would never have foot surgery for cosmetic reasons.I have been through many foot surgeries and it is very painful and the recovery process is very long.Sorry I can't help you with a local Doctor for you. Good luck with finding a Doctor that can help you! If I can help in any other way please feel free to ask :) I hope you feel better.
Sue :angel: