My name is Lindsay and I have been struggling with the look of my feet ever since I was little! My second toe is quite a bit longer than the first and I hate not being able to wear all the cute designer shoes! I was just wondering the price, recovery, and any adverse effects from the procedure (will my feet ache in the future…etc.). Also, can you get both feet done at the same time? I live in Alberta Canada so I would want to fly down and have it done all at once.

Thanks!

I am a 42 year old female and have recently undergone a hammer toe correction procedure (Sept 09). The procedure being a PIP joint fusion of right 2nd toe with Weil’s osteotomy and extensor tenotomy, which I feel unfortunately hasn’t settled down as much as I would have liked. I have been left with a floating toe, which is extremely uncomfortable when walking as I can feel the pull along the top of my foot and I am now walking with a limp that I never had before. My toe appears only slightly shorter than the others when my foot is off the floor, but on weightbearing or putting my foot to the floor, the toe retracts back, appears shorter and is left floating. I’m unsure as to the reason for this, but am worried that the Weil’s osteotomy has been too aggressive and the bone in the top of my foot shortened too much. I am due to go back to the hospital but am reluctant to allow any further surgery as I have little faith in the sugeon who performed the original op. Would I be a suitable candidate for toe-lengthening? I live in the UK so it would be helpful if you could give me an idea of the costs involved for this procedure and the length of recovery time.

Many thanks, Paula Griffiths.

I had a bunion surgery nine years ago on my left foot. My foot was never heal completely and was always sore at the ball of the foot. Last September an orthopedic surgeon removes tibial sesamoid to relieve the pain. I wear an orthopedic support all the time. I enjoy ballroom dancing but took off from practicing for 4 months because the pain was quite severe when I put the weight on that foot. Now the pain is getting to be too much even 1 hour of practice. My foot can be sore for 2 or 3 days. I had juvaderm injection in February but it only last 3 months and it took almost 2 months after the injection to heal up. I can not walk barefoot longer than 30 minutes at home before the pain get worse.

Ballroom dancing is what keep me healthy. My over all health is so much better now since I started dancing. I do not want to give that up. I am 54 years old female.

My question is. Is the fat injection procedure is right for me and what does involve in this procedure? I would appreciate any information you may have.

Sincerely,
Ood Stalcup

Thanks.

Thank you,
Bonnie Erickson

Thank you very much for watching the show and your comments and questions. It makes me happy to see that I am helping people from such diverse regions of the country. I will answer most of your questions in this post.

For starters, age is not a limit to this procedure given that there are no medical risks or hazards due to your age. An example of this is weak bones (osteoporosis) or heart conditions that would preclude you from getting surgery. if there are no issues that would prevent us from correcting a bunion with surgery, then we go for it! The reason is that any time, is a good time to fix a bunion. If you intervene when you are young, it is good because you are preventing the problem from damaging the joint. But even if you are intervening at an older age, you are still preventing further damage and degeneration of the joint surface.

I corrected my own father’s bunions when he was 68 years old, and he is walking happy and pain free.

The “Cinderella Procedure” addresses this common problem in a pain free, and short recovery way. You can read a little bit more about the procedure on the procedures section of the site.

I appreciate the requests to refer patients to doctors in their own areas, however, most of the procedures I perform are unique to my practice and it would impossible for me to recommend another doctor in your area being that I am not familiar with their approach to surgery, other than the traditional methods that I was trained to do as well.

The best way to approach your individual questions is personal consultations. For patients that are out of state I often will look at Xrays and digital photos of your feet to give you my initial impression. But for every patient, I encourage you to either call (310 691 5411) or email (footsurgery@mac.com) the office and speak with Shu Shu (my office manager) about your concern and we can plan on further discussion in person.

Thank you again for your questions… I look forward to answering everyone of them in person.

Yes, bunions are caused by genetics, but if the procedure addresses the deformity correctly, it will not come back being that you are fully grown and the genetic disposition to develop the deformity has already expressed itself.

As for TriCare, the answer is yes. I love to take care of military and their families

This is very interesting question. If I am correct, I think you are asking about the actual veins on the top of the foot, not varicose or spider veins?

The answer (and idea) of injecting fat is a valid one. It can and will help. However there is always the issue with the fat transplant not being a permanent solution. This is the case with a percentage of the fat transfers we perform. Ultimately, this risk of failure must be assessed in relation to the result and whether it is worth it. The risk is low being that we will be injecting the fat so the entry point is small and the risk for infection is low. So then the cost becomes a factor.

I would love to see your foot. I ask most patients to either send a photo or come in for a consult so I can give them a better initial impression so they get the most accurate assessment given geography. Please call (310 691 5411) or email (footsurgery@mac.com) the office and speak with Shu Shu (my office manager) about your email and we can plan on further discussion.