Site logo

Would you get surgery to feel better in heels?

How far would you go in the pursuit of looking good? That’s the question that every person should ask themselves as there are almost limitless ways to improve your looks. The quest for eternal youth and beauty can become an obsession that ends up ruining your health and finances.

A prime example is the latest plastic surgery trend – foot surgery. It’s not designed to make your feet a thing of beauty, that will wow your fellow vacationers when you scamper barefoot on the beach. No, it’s a series of procedures that change the shape of your feet to make it easier to wear high heels.

Now, most women know the power of a pair of heels – they lengthen your legs and shape your calf – but are they really worth foot surgery? Surely in the days of gel pads, heel pads and other clever bits of shoecare you could just make your shoes more comfortable?

According to a leading New York foot clinic, no. Their website claims that “Cosmetic foot surgery is as much art as it is science” and that most people need their range of services to stop feeling so self conscious about their ugly feet. Those services include foot narrowing, toe shortening and lengthening and the absurd-sounding “toe obesity” procedure (in their own words – “making “fat” toes thinner and more beautiful”). Other clinics offer a foot implant, which is a kind of built-in gel pad on the ball of the foot to make heels more comfortable. With the combination of all these procedures, painful shoes could be a thing of the past!

But is it worth the risk? The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society thinks not, and they have roundly condemned the trend . They have also drawn a distinction between surgery for medical reasons and cosmetic ones, saying “Orthopaedic foot or ankle surgical procedures are designed to relieve pain and restore form and function. It is against the patient’s best interest to expand the surgical indication to include cosmesis.” They point out that any surgery comes with the risk of complications.

However, that argument ignores some very basic facts – namely, that some people will do anything to make themselves feel better. So, if the New York clinics are peddling the line that every woman hates her feet, they’ll naturally decide that their feet need improving. It’s an easy win if you play on people’s low self-esteem. As one New York beauty consultant says “Foot beautification is definitely a trend” and it doesn’t look like it’ll be going away anytime soon.

 

Until next time,

 

Peace, love and vitamin C!

Comments

  • No comments yet.
  • Add a comment