Is Foot Surgery Cosmetic? This Foot Surgeon’s Opinion

A lot of the patients I see each year come for a surgery consultation. Why? Most of the patients I see have pain when wearing shoes or from any injury. However, women are more likely than men to see me due to the pointy, narrow, high heels they wear and dont want to give up. Recently, ABC News interviewed a podiatrist who does perform cosmetic foot surgery, and when the interview ran I got numerous calls about it.

I saw a new female patient this morning. She came to see me requesting I narrow her foot so she can wear the shoes she loves. She has no pain in shoes but considers her feet fat. She actually said, Cant you take off the last bone and little toe? After I picked myself off the floor, I realized she was serious. I told her I didnt know any foot doctor who would do this just so she could have a narrower foot.

Personally, I can understand the reasons some patients want their feet to look better; but, if does not hurt or present a health issue, I will not perform surgery. Again, this is my opinion only, and as they say in Houston, If it aint broke, dont fix it.

Most patients have valid health reasons for having foot and ankle surgery, usually due to pain. Bunions, hammertoes, heel spurs, nerve entrapments, plantar fasciitis, fractures, and many more issues are valid reasons for surgery. Lets take bunions for example. Many patients have pain at the base of the big toe with a big bump that is red, inflamed, and swollen and cant wear shoes because of pain. Most have already tried wider shoes, but they end up slipping off their heels because they are too wide. I explain all the options of conservative care, but most return because it didnt help. I explain the surgery in detail to them, and after surgery is performed the foot does look better. Was this cosmetic? No, this was done due to the pain.

Feet are not supposed to hurt and if you have pain for any reason give Dr. Bowman a call at 713-467-8886 or schedule an appointment online at www.houstonfootspecialists.com.

Category: Surgery

Tags: ABC News Interview, Bunions, Cosmetic Foot Surgery, foot pain, Foot Surgery, Fractures, Hammertoes, Heel Spurs, High Heels, Nerve Entrapments, Plantar Fasciitis