Highlighting foot fillers

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

What to do when your feet are beat

You rely on them every day yet they’re the furthest from your heart. They’re one of the most supportive body parts you have but often are neglected. Americans use them to measure distance and there may be a decent online side hustle exposing them. They age right along with us but unlike the rest of our bodies, they can lose fat as the years go by.

What are they? Our feet! They pound the pavement while also taking a pounding and few of us give them the care they deserve. And even the most sedentary people experience foot pain. Aside from the temporary solutions of spas and pedicures, is there anything else we can do to treat our feet?

Just like Botox for a migraine, painful areas of the feet can benefit from dermal fillers. Have those dress shoes been pinching you for far too long? Are your gym shoes not as supportive as they used to be? Maybe you’re prone to rough calluses or you’re starting to develop corns. Foot fillers might be able to sweep you off your feet and put you on cloud nine.

This article is the twenty-second in a series highlighting some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. In the Highlighting series, we tell you ALL the alternative names of the surgery so you learn the medical terminology as well as develop a little street cred with slang terms. We share a little history of the procedure and describe the general process. We mention possible complications and give you an idea of the typical recovery time.

Also known as/similar or related names are:

Collagen, hyaluronic, metatarsal, metatarsalgia, plantar, silicone.

First recorded

American podiatrist Dr. Sol Balkin first recorded his use of silicone injections into feet in 1964. He wanted to ease patient pain caused by the erosion of plantar fat. (The plantar is the bottom or sole of your foot.) In other words, Dr. Balkin worked to restore soles. At that time he was the only doctor performing this procedure, making him the sole sole restorer.

Since then, other doctors have jumped feet-first into this area of plastic surgery to help their patients with pain management. It’s been said that fashion is pain, and anyone who has suffered through a day in high heels might agree. The National Library of Medicine published a study on hyaluronic foot fillers injected to relieve pain caused by constrictive high-heeled shoes. Its findings were positive, indicating that fillers provide a viable sole-ution to foot pain.

General process

If you’re considering foot fillers, you have options. Many fillers include one or more of the following: hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-L-lactic acid. Talk to your carefully selected medical professional to choose which material will best suit your needs.

You’ll hop up into the chair and present your poor, aching feet. They will be injected with local anesthetic to numb them, then your doctor will administer the filler to the appropriate areas. No tip-toeing around it.

What could go wrong?

Complications that may occur include:

• Bleeding and/or bruising at the injection site - this will disappear over time as your heels heal. Just put a sock on it.
• Infection - this is possible with any introduction of a foreign substance into your body but can be avoided with diligent, proper hygiene. Just use soap and water.
• Swelling - you want a little extra cushion but immediately after the injection, the area may be a little extra large. Just put some ice on it. (If your doctor tells you to.)

What could go right?

Now that your dogs aren’t barking, you can hear your thoughts and:

• Think of all the places you’ll go now that your feet don’t hurt with each step.
• Look down at those beautiful tootsies at the end of your legs. No more unsightly corns or calluses!
• Put those extra sexy high heels back on. Don’t they feel almost as good as they look?! Almost.

Recovery time

The recovery time from this outpatient procedure varies according to the type and amount of filler you’ve had as well as the specific areas you’ve filled. Most patients return to work the next day but you may experience swelling and discomfort for the first week. You may also require a special type of footwear that enables mobility as well as healing. Your doctor will have more details if you need special shoes.

The last stitch

Some of us choose to hide our feet away in socks and shoes, slippers and boots. We keep the focus northward, on our faces and bodies. Whether you can see them or not, your feet are there to take you where you want to go, every day. If you’re experiencing pain or discomfort from your natural fat pads wearing away as you age or overuse your feet, consider a little outpatient dermal filler for a new lease on life. Don’t drag your feet: it’ll only delay your relief.