It’s not often that we have the opportunity to create something new in medicine. I consider myself fortunate to have trained with the finest surgeons and to have had the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants in the profession. This has allowed me to develop the practice and services we offer today.
When I first had the idea of creating a new speciality within foot surgery, many of my colleagues were taken aback. The concept of approaching foot surgery from an aesthetic eye was something completely new, and in some circles considered taboo.
Today, it gives me great pleasure to see the proliferation of cosmetic and aesthetic practices popping up around the country. Over the past few years, I have been contacted by dozens of doctors asking about the new procedures I have developed and the concept practice we built in Studio City.
Today, the ball is rolling and aesthetic foot surgery is a reality. I find that now, more than ever, it is important that I outline clearly what I consider to be the core principles of Aesthetic Foot Surgery, and define the tenets of what is considered a true aesthetic foot practice.
It is important that our patients and colleagues understand the philosophy of the practice of Aesthetic Foot Surgery. We perform functional, preventative foot surgery that provides the patient with the shortest recovery times and best chance of outcomes based on the procedure choice and on improved functionality, all accomplished with an aesthetically pleasing result.
This is the driving force behind an Aesthetic Foot Surgery Practice. The fundamental purpose of Podiatric Surgery is to prevent and treat deformity of the foot and ankle, knowing that certain diagnoses can lead to problems in the patient’s future. But added to this purpose, I argue, that the burden of striving for an aesthetically pleasing result is equally as important.
The modern world imposes certain social norms on women, and to neglect these as a reality is akin to living in an idealistic world where the treatment plan never consolidates with the patient’s real life. Professional women have to wear a certain kind of shoe. Unfortunately what is considered beautiful in our modern society for a woman’s shoe isn’t necessarily the most orthopedically friendly design. Respecting these facts, rather than hide from the truths, I decided to create simple, reliable procedures to liberate women from the unrealistic solutions that traditional or “legacy” podiatric procedures offered.
Leaving a bunion deformity or a long toe to develop into an arthritic, rigid deformity is not the proactive and modern approach that a woman in the 21st century demands or deserves. That is why I believe the onus falls on the surgeon to create innovative procedures that allows the young, active woman to continue functioning in the modern world, without having to wait for a symptomatic deformity to develop before there is intervention. This is the very essence of Aesthetic Foot Surgery, patients present with a problem that is unsightly, but ultimately will develop into a symptomatic deformity if left alone… prevention in the name of aesthetics.
To be a surgeon is a privilege and one that I respect with high regard. That privilege comes with a responsibility: performing every procedure with an effort to improve the pre-operative analysis, procedural decision making, surgical technique, and the post-operative experience. In doing this, we, by default strive for more reliable results, shorter recovery times, and better, aesthetically pleasing approaches and techniques. With this also comes the effort to polish every aspect of our practice and provide the patient with an experience that rivals the most technologically advanced hospitals.
In a summary, every surgeon that performs elective surgery is under the obligation to improve traditional surgical techniques, the post operative experience of the patient, and most importantly to hide evidence of surgery (i.e. incisions), leaving the patient with results that contribute to the well-being of their life, and provide them with the best experience possible during their time as a patient.
That, is what I call Aesthetic Foot Surgery.
ali sadrieh | dpm
