This little piggy went to market, this little piggy stayed home. Remember
that favorite childhood saying? Well if any of your little piggies hurt or
aren’t as attractive as they used to be, why not consider a Foot Facelift?
What is a Foot Facelift you say? Coined by Dr. Zong, Manhattan based
podiatrist, and Surgical Director of NYC Foot Care and on the Board of
Directors at Gramercy Surgical Center, it is used to describe cosmetic
surgery of the feet.

Dr. Zong describes the typical “high heel foot” as one that is
triangular-shaped in the front like a high heel shoe. The big toe is
pointing towards the little toes (bunion) and the pinky toe is pointed
towards the big toe. The toes in between are often curled up (hammertoes)
instead of straight and any or all the toes may have corns on them. There
may even be a bump by the pinky toe called a bunionette or tailor’s bunion.
It’s often the result of the foot taking the shape of the pointed-toed shoes
their owners love according to Dr. Zong. On top of that with the added
pressure on the ball of the foot caused by heels, there are often numerous
callouses present on the soles as well.

Maybe the problem is that your toes are too long. In fact many people have
a very long 2nd toe. Perhaps you have unsightly corns that keep you from
wearing sandals. Maybe your pinky toe kills you in heels or even in your
flats. Well the good news is that toes can be shortened, corns can be cut
out, and 5th toes made slimmer and trimmer to fit more comfortably into
shoes. Think of it as a “toe tuck” for pudgy toes.

Over time, your feet can become so painful that you can’t wear shoes without
pain let alone heels. If that’s the case, then you’re overdue for the foot
doctor. Not only will a little surgery help with the pain, but your foot
will look better too. Imagine all of your toes straight with that ugly bump
by the big toe gone. Afterwards, you may even fit better into your high
heels too. And with relief of your foot pain it’s a win-win situation.

“I see many women with “high heel feet” in my office and most of them have
moderate to severe pain along with the ugly corns, and crooked toes” says
Dr. Zong. “Most of them require foot surgery even if they’ve switched to
“sensible shoes”. And it’s not as bad as you may think. “Today, 99 percent
of the time it’s an outpatient procedure with the patient able to walk the
same day of the surgery and home in just a few hours” according to Dr.
Zong. “ Although they are able to walk, I like to provide car service for
my patients after surgery to insure they get home safely. Additionally,
incisions can be placed so they are inconspicuous, and in some cases out of
visual site so that no one will even know you ever had surgery.” Recovery
times are shorter than ever. “Sneakers in a few weeks, shoes shortly after
that. Full recovery in about 2 months but most patients miss little time at
work.”

“You’d be surprised how many women don’t like their feet or are embarrassed
by them. It’s gratifying to be able to help someone feel better about
themselves and at the same time help patients who are suffering with foot
pain to get them to walk without fear of pain again.” And in many cases
that means they can walk in heels again. Dr. Zong often tells his
patients, “I’m in the business of saving soles.”

Now how does that saying go again? This little piggy went to market, this
little piggy stayed home. This little piggy went to the foot doctor and now
lives in Jimmy Choos.