Oh My Aching Feet! Bunionplasty?

Yet another cosmetic foot surgery! At least what is being called “Bunionplasty” seems as if it might be more called for than toe shortening! Cosmetic foot surgery is on the rise, but the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society doesn’t think most of these surgeries are very safe or healthy.

What causes bunions? A deformity of the metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint at the base of the big toe causes instability of the joint. This in turn can restrict motion or make motion of the big toe painful. And yes, ladies, wearing narrow-toed high heels can cause this! So can diabetes, some neuromuscular diseases, and continuous stress on the feet, such as performing ballet.

Traditionally, padding and taping the toe, medication for pain and inflammation, physical therapy, ultrasound and shoe inserts are used to help pain from bunions and to prevent the condition from worsening. Previously, surgically correcting the bunion has been a last resort. Removing the boney lump was one way, and a more complicated method is cutting the bone and realigning the joint. But the latter is exactly what some surgeons are doing for cosmetic reasons these days. Apparently nearly 400,000 of these procedures were performed last year. Of course, orthopedic surgeons have traditionally called this a “bunionectomy,” however cosmetic orthopedic surgery services seems to be a growing field.

Not being an orthopedic surgeon, I stick with face lifts, liposuction, and breast augmentation at Little Rock Cosmetic Surgery Center, among other traditional cosmetic procedures. My advice is to wear good looking wide toed shoes and save the fancy heels for special occasions to avoid bone surgery on your feet!

Call Melinda at the front desk to set up a consultation with me at 501-227-0707