Women are increasingly turning to cosmetic foot surgery to fit into high-end designer shoes, according to a report. Procedures range from collagen injections to toe shortening, as fashion trends demand higher heels and narrower toes.
In New York, chiropodist Dr Suzanne Levine reports a surge in demand for treatments such as £300 collagen injections in the soles and £150 'foot facials'. Some patients have even requested 'toe liposuction', though she advises them to see a therapist instead.
Stephen Smith, a Californian chiropodist, said: 'We have had people who wanted toes taken off completely because their foot is too wide for stylish shoes. We just won't do that.'
Wendy Stroudberg, 28, underwent a 'nail narrowing' and bone removal from her second toe. She said: 'Last year I had to bury my feet in the sand because they were so ugly. Now I can wear pumps without pain.' When asked if she would consider changing shoes, she replied: 'Never. I will never stop wearing those high heels.'
The trend persists despite designers like Manolo Blahnik creating even narrower shoes with 4.5-inch steel heels, which may render such operations insufficient.
