TORONTO PODIATRIST DISCUSSES COSMETIC FOOT SURGERY IN THE NATIONAL POST

IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THE EDITOR OF THE POST MAKES THIS REMARK WHICH PRECEDES THIS STORY, "ARE WE LOSING OUR MINDS, FOLKS??"

A TORONTO PODIATRIST WHO WAS PRESIDENT OF THE CANADIAN PODIATRIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION (CPMA) AT THAT TIME STATES THAT "30% OF HIS PRACTICE IS RELATED TO COSMETIC SURGERY OF THE FOOT WHERE HE SLICES PORTIONS OFF THE TOES OFF SO THAT THEY WILL BETTER FIT INTO HIGH HEELS."  HE CALLS IT RESHAPING THEIR FEET.  "FOR THOSE WILLING TO SUFFER THE BEAUTY, THIS TORONTO PODIATRIST WARNS "OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SWELLING, DISCOMFORT FOR SEVEN TO TEN DAYS, AND POST-OPERATIVE INFECTION."

DR. JOHN GIURINI, CHIEF OF PODIATRIC SURGERY AT THE BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER IN BOSTON, SAID "THE SIDE EFFECTS CAN BE PERMANENT.  HE SAYS COSMETIC SURGERY CAN REPLACE A CONDITION THAT IS NOT PAINFUL WITH ONE THAT IS A PERMANENT DISABILITY AND THAT DOCTORS SHOULD ACT AS HEALTH ADVOCATES REGARDLESS OF THE DESIRES OF THEIR CLIENTS."

OUR CLINIC IS OF THE BELIEF THAT HIGH HEELS ARE UNHEALTHY TO BEGIN WITH AND WOULD NEVER SUGGEST TO ANY PATIENT WHO WAS PAIN FREE TO EVEN CONSIDER SUCH A SURGERY.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY DR. JOHN A.  HARDY, OWNER AND DIRECTOR OF ACADEMY FOOT AND ORTHOTIC CLINICS.