The Foot Lift: Aesthetic Bunion Correction
The ‘Foot-lift’: Aesthetic bunion correction, a face-lift for your feet
Do painful bunions prevent you from wearing the shoes you want to wear? Are the risks and recovery times from surgery preventing you from seriously considering bunion surgery?
Bunions are one of the most common problems of the foot. This is a condition where the big toe points toward the second toe causing a bump on the inside edge of the toe. This bump is an enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe and is comprised of bone or soft tissue. They are generally caused by bone structure and ligamentous laxity or "loose ligaments”. Genetics also appears to play a role, though narrow-toed, high-heeled shoes can aggravate the problem. The condition can often progress and become quite painful.
Bunionectomies (the surgical procedure to remove a bunion) have come a long way. Over the past century, over 100 different types of bunion procedures have been described; many with high success rates. The success rate has increased with recent refinements in surgical techniques resulting in earlier ambulation and decreased recovery times. Despite the multitude of techniques for bunion correction, every patient is unique. Many factors, such as age, health status, activity level, work, and family obligations, must be considered in choosing the optimal procedure best suited for each individual.
Having performed over 2500 bunionectomies, whether at the famed Kern Hospital in Michigan, at institutions in the tri-state area, Massachusetts, California, or in the United Kingdom, I have seen a great deal of variability in the methods used as well as in outcomes. When it comes to pain and activity, results have been satisfactory. However, some patients complain of excess skin that is left behind after bunionectomy. This excess skin is typically considered normal and an expected part of the outcome of surgery. Many surgeons tell their patients that the skin will contract back as time passes, "Like a pregnant women's belly does after she gives birth." However, I have found that this is not always the case. Besides being thicker, the skin on the foot is also stronger and less elastic then the skin on the belly or face (think of all the facial expressions that cause the skin on the face to stretch). Whereas the skin on the foot must withstand more pressure and is therefore stronger and less elastic. As a result, some bunionectomy patients are left with redundant skin that is thickened and unable to retract. In such cases, the redundant skin may become unsightly.
To address this problem, I now perform a skin plasty with almost every bunionectomy. This technique removes excess skin and shapes the site to allow for smoother contours and less scaring. This technique, which I refer to as the Foot-lift: an Aesthetic Bunionectomy, has a very high success rate. The Foot-lift allows for a less noticeable scar and removes the unwanted thickened skin. It also helps reduce swelling which helps reduce the post op pain. In addition, it may help decrease the likelihood of bunion reoccurrence. The majority of our team of podiatric surgeons here at Associated Podiatrists have now adopted this technique.
The Foot-lift procedure is similar to a tummy tuck or a face-lift in which the excess skin is removed in toto. The remaining portions of healthy skin are then carefully undermined, stretched, and rotated as needed. Deep sutures are used to close the incision, but within the topmost superficial layers of skin, a fine suture is used which allows for a seamless closure and minimal scarring. The level of pain in patients undergoing an Aesthetic Bunionectomy tends to be slightly less than the traditional bunionectomy. Less swelling in the foot translates not only to less pain, but also a quicker return to shoes and activity.
All the experts will tell you, do not have this procedure for cosmetic purposes alone. Along with your podiatrist, weigh the risks and benefits of performing any foot surgery.
Treatments for bunions have come a long way and bunion surgery may not involve the pain and recovery time you may think. Patients with large bunions tend to have pain associated with them and are therefore good candidates for the Foot-lift. For more information considering visiting the following websites www.APMA.org or www.GreatFootCare.com
For more information on aesthetic bunion correction, please contact our Long Island foot doctors at Advanced Podiatry today at either our Manhasset, Huntington, Coram, Woodbury, Mineola, Williston Park & Maspeth, Plainview NY practice! Or submit a request through our site's contact form.
Figures: The first picture depicts the Foot-lift incision and the second one shows a before and after photo of a 67 year old female that recently underwent the procedure.
