Americans undergo plastic surgery for cosmetic enhancements every day. They get breast augmentations, face lifts, and rhinoplasty, more commonly called a "nose job." One body part that many people may never think to improve the appearance of is the feet. However, women, in particular, are increasingly seeking cosmetic toe and foot surgery. Here is a closer look at the reasons behind this unique plastic surgery application.

Why Would Someone Need Cosmetic Toe Surgery?

Podiatrists often discourage women from wearing high heels. While they may look sexy and increase their stature, high heels contort the foot in a manner that was never intended. When wearing a closed-toe high heel shoe, the toes are unnaturally smooshed together. Both closed and open-toed high heel shoes force the arch of your foot into an unnatural position. High-heeled shoes put all of your weight on the balls of your feet, the area just behind your toes. The feet were designed to be flat on the ground, which enables them to displace your body weight across the sole. Wearing high heels changes this and unnecessarily stresses the tiny bones that make up the toes and feet.

When high heels are consistently worn for years, these bones can become deformed as the feet try to compensate for the unnatural stress they are under. This often results in not only painful feet, but feet that aren't very cute anymore. This leaves a woman unable to continue wearing high heels, but it also results in her not feeling comfortable even wearing flat open-toed shoes or sandals.

What Foot Problems Can Be Caused By High Heels?

Wearing high heels once in a while for a few hours during special occasions will result in nothing more than aching feet if you are lucky, and if you're unlucky, perhaps a sprained ankle or broken bone from taking a fall. But if you consistently wearing high heels, day after day, year after year, they will damage the structure of your feet over time.

Hammertoes are a common "side effect" of wearing high heels. This is when the toes curl under and gradually permanently stay that way. In addition to looking unattractive and being painful, the tops of the toes are then in a higher than normal position, which can cause them to rub uncomfortably against the top of the toe box in regular shoes, causing sores and callouses.

Bunions are another result from long-term use of high heels. This is a painful bone growth that forms on the side of the big toe, which makes wearing any closed shoe difficult and excruciating. Unfortunately, many women don't want to wear a sandal because the bunion gives the foot a deformed look, which can be embarrassing. Ingrown toenails are another common result of wearing high heels, which are also painful and unsightly.

What Can Cosmetic Toe And Foot Surgery Accomplish?

In addition to correcting the toe and foot issues and alleviating the pain, cosmetic toe surgery will improve the overall appearance. If you are concerned about the function and appearance of your feet, contact a podiatrist for an assessment.