The Various Types of Cosmetic Foot Surgery
It’s no secret that cosmetic surgery has become mainstream in the U.S. over the past few decades. And while the face is still the area most commonly targeted for changes, cosmetic foot surgery is a new and growing trend. When you consider how the ancient Chinese invented foot binding as a way to stunt the growth of the feet and achieve a desired look, it’s clear that concerns with the outward appearance of the foot are not new in the slightest. However, the options offered nowadays and what they are designed to fix, are a far cry from the painful and even damaging procedures of the past.
In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the various types of cosmetic foot surgery offered at Extend Orthopedics and provide an overview of what they are devised to accomplish.
A Focus on Restoring Form and Function
Cosmetic foot surgery usually serves a dual purpose, since unattractive conditions such as bunions and crossover toes are caused by physical problems that are often accompanied by painful symptoms. Stuart Katchis, M.D. is a leading provider of cosmetic foot surgery in NYC and offers advanced procedures aimed at improving not only the appearance of the foot, but correcting the underlying condition which causes the problem as well.
Dr. Katchis has been at the forefront of developing cutting-edge treatments for some of the most common foot problems, such as bunions and hammertoes. However, no foot surgery should be taken lightly. Extend Orthopedics is not a proponent of unnecessary surgeries that are done for purely aesthetic purposes. For those seeking to restore both form and function, our practice offers a full range of cosmetic foot surgery options.
Bunion Surgery
Bunions are one of the most common targets of cosmetic foot surgery. A bunion – a painful condition affecting the joint between the forefoot and the big toe – occurs when the joint becomes unstable. When this happens, the big toe starts to drift toward the other toes, creating a large bump on the side of the foot and causing pain.
Extend Orthopedics offers the Re+Line® bunion correction procedure, a cutting-edge treatment that realigns the joint by inserting a tension band compression plate along the side of the big toe. The plate cannot be seen or felt due to its low profile, and it provides superior stability for the joint. It also remains in the foot after surgery, reducing the likelihood of a recurrence of the problem. And while other bunion correction procedures may keep you off your feet for weeks, Re+Line patients are often able to bear weight on the affected foot the same day as surgery.
Other bunion surgery options include:
- Tendon and ligament repair – Most often used for mild bunions, this involves tightening loose tendons while lengthening short ones in order to realign and stabilize the joint.
- Arthrodesis – Most common when other treatments have been unsuccessful or when the joint is severely damaged by arthritis, arthrodesis is a surgical fusion of the joint.
- Resection arthroplasty – This procedure removes damaged sections of the joint.
Hammertoe Surgery
Another condition often corrected by cosmetic foot surgery is hammertoe. Hammertoe is a toe deformity in which the toe remains in a curled position and is unable to straighten out. Typically caused by wearing tight or uncomfortable shoes that force the toe(s) into a bent or flexed position for an extended period of time, hammertoes may also develop secondary to bunions.
Extend Orthopedics offers an advanced cosmetic foot surgery called Nextradesis®, which repairs the affected toes through surgical fusion of the joints. In this procedure, the damaged joints are removed and a small device called the Nextra® is inserted into the toe in order to hold the bones in place. Unlike other fusion procedures, the Nextra device allows customization to each patient’s unique toe anatomy along with some other advantages.
Other hammertoe correction procedures include:
- Arthroplasty – This involves simply removing a section of the small joint, allowing room for the toe to straighten out.
- Tendon transfer – In its early stages, hammertoe may be able to be treated by transferring tendons from the bottom of the toe to the top in order to pull the bent toe straight.
Crossover Toe Surgery
Crossover toe is a condition in which the second toe is displaced sideways and crosses over the big toe. It often occurs in conjunction with bunions. Cosmetic foot surgery options for crossover toe may vary depending on the position of the toe and the severity of the condition, but surgery commonly includes removing part of the bone and repairing damaged ligaments or fusing the joint together in some cases. In effect, the toe is repositioned and properly aligned. If crossover toe is accompanied by a bunion, the bunion may need to be repaired at the same time.
Schedule Your Cosmetic Foot Surgery Consultation in NY
If you’re considering cosmetic foot surgery, a consultation with an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot surgery is essential. Dr. Katchis will explain your options and identify which procedures you may be a good candidate for. In addition, he’ll advise you of all the potential pros and cons of any procedure so that you can determine the option that best suits your needs. So if you’re ready to restore both form and function to your feet, you can get started by filling out the schedule appointment form right on this page or contacting our office.
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