Cosmetic foot surgery is very much what it sounds like—surgery on your lower extremities for aesthetic reasons, rather than medical reasons. Our Burke VA podiatrist has noticed a general uptick in interest and requests nationally for these procedures. Different medical groups have cited both pros and cons of cosmetic foot surgery, and patients are encouraged to be as informed and prepared as possible prior to surgery, since cosmetic surgeries carry the same risks and recoveries as any normal surgery would.
Many cosmetic surgeries came about as byproducts of medically necessary surgeries. For instance, bunion surgery allows for a deformed area of the foot to be removed, and a patient’s pain is consequently relieved. However, this surgery is also known to straighten the foot and may result in a more pleasing contour. Hammertoes and brachymetatarsia are examples of other conditions in which surgery may serve the dual purpose of allowing the foot to function properly while resulting in favorable aesthetics. However, patients who do not have these conditions but still request these treatments would be inquiring about cosmetic foot surgery.
What is a Loub Job?
An example of a rising term in the cosmetic foot surgery vernacular is a “loub job.” The “loub job” derives its name from Louboutin high heels. Women who wear high heels are often familiar with discomfort at the end of the day. Especially as you get older, your feet naturally lose some of the fat padding on the soles which they had before. A “loub job” consists of having a dermal filler injected into the soles of the feet to provide extra padding.
What is Toe Shortening?
Metatarsalgia, a condition resulting in pain at the end of one or more of the metatarsal bones, requires surgery in extreme cases. Bones would sometimes be shortened to correct alignments of toes and relieve pain. Now, these treatments are not reserved for medical purposes only, and those who wish to alter their toe length for aesthetic purposes can explore this option.
Laser Hair Removal
Less invasive but still cosmetic, laser hair removal is not uncommonly performed on feet. Like laser hair removal anywhere else on the body, lasers subject individual hair follicles to intense heat, preventing them from producing hair in a given area ever again.
Our Burke VA Podiatrist Urges Safety Over Aesthetics
If you are considering cosmetic surgery or treatment for your feet, our podiatrist in Burke urges you to research your potential doctor thoroughly. All medical procedures can carry risk, and you should ensure that your choice of podiatrist will always put your safety first. Ask your podiatrist to explain all potential risks of a procedure before you decide to proceed, and feel free to call our Burke VA podiatrist if you want a second opinion.
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to podiatry, feel free to contact The Podiatry Center, with a convenient podiatry office location near Burke VA, by clicking here or by calling 301.656.6055.
