Cosmetic Foot Surgery

IT'S SUMMERTIME AND CLOSED-TOE SHOES ARE BEING TRADED IN FOR SANDALS AND FLIP FLOPS.

BUT MANY PEOPLE DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE BARING THEIR SOLES... BECAUSE THEY'RE EMBARRASSED BY HOW THEIR FEET LOOK.

AS MEDICAL REPORTER KATHY FOWLER TELLS US, COSMETIC FOOT SURGERY IS GETTING INCREASINGLY POPULAR.

Story:

HEATHER MULLEN'S BUNION HURT TERRIBLY AND STUCK WAY OUT ON THE SIDE OF HER RIGHT FOOT.

Heather Mullen, patient: "A lot of pain, constantly swollen, it hurt to even touch the bump, very wide and just not very attractive looking."

SO SHE HAD A BUNIONECTOMY SEVERAL WEEKS AGO... AND SHE'S THRILLED WITH THE CHANGES.

Mullen: "You can tell a difference already - it's still swollen, but it does look like a different foot."




DOCTOR RICHARD MENDELSOHN PERFORMED THE SURGERY, AND SAYS MULLEN IS LIKE MANY OTHER WOMEN HE SEES.

Dr. Richard Mendelsohn, podiatrist: "Part of the reason they're being evaluated is because their feet hurt, and part of it is because they don't like the way they look."

IRENE MCDONALD IS ONE OF THOSE WOMEN.

Irene McDonald, patient: "They just don't look pretty, it's hard to buy shoes because there's a bone sticking out on one side and I want to wear sandals and heels and open toes now that summer is coming."

DOCTORS CAN NOW INJECT A PADDING TO THE BALL OF YOUR FOOT, THEY CAN REMOVE BUNIONS TO MAKE YOUR FEET STRAIGHT, AND THEY CAN FIX HAMMERTOES BY SHORTENING TOES.

BUT THE PROCEDURES COME WITH RISKS.

Dr. Stephen Neufeld, orthopedic surgeon: "The risks of any foot and ankle surgery are infection, a recurrence of problem of deformity, and actually you could be worse after surgery than before."

MANY DOCTORS SAY THE RISKS ARE NOT WORTH THE POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF COSMETIC SURGERY.

Dr. Neufeld: "I always tell patients it's easier and safer to change the shoe to fit your foot, than it is to change your foot to fit your shoe."

BUT SOME PEOPLE, LIKE HEATHER, ARE WILLING TO TAKE THOSE RISKS... TO HAVE BETTER LOOKING FEET.

source: www.wjla.com