Toe Surgery on the Rise in the U.S.

Americans spent over $10.4 billion on cosmetic surgery last year, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Wait ’till you hear about this latest cosmetic plastic surgery trend – TOE SURGERY!

Good Morning America did a recent interview with New York-based Dr. Oliver Zong who is the surgical director at NYC FootCare. Zong is a podiatrist and one of his specialties is slimming down people’s wide toes which he calls “toe-besity.”

Zong said that more and more people are focusing on smaller details of their feet and prefer “thinner” toes.

But Zong doesn’t see the harm in performing cosmetic procedures, as long as they are safe and as long as there is something to fix cosmetically. “I think it’s the same as if you would ask for any kind of cosmetic surgery,” he said. “They’re very embarrassed by the situation and afterward, they gain self-esteem and feel more confident. Some people have said they’re so embarrassed that their boyfriends have never seen their feet.” 

But not every surgeon is as willing as Zong when it comes to toe surgery.

Dr. Hillary Brenner, a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association, told “Good Morning America”, “I don’t think it’s ethical unless you’re having pain.” Not only is the surgery entirely elective, meaning insurance companies won’t cover the cost of the pricey procedure (prices range from the hundreds up to the thousands), but patients take on the same medical gambles as any major surgery, according to Brenner.

Earlier in April this year, the Daily Mail reported that requests for filler injections into women’s toe pads, balls of the feet, and heels have jumped 21% doubling last year’s rates.

Looks like cosmetic foot surgery is here to stay.