Special Report: Best Foot Forward

We see them everywhere from Hollywood's red carpet to the streets of Boston, flip flops and strappy shoes have become staple in a woman's wardrobe. For people, whom are unhappy with the way their feet look, open toes shoes can be a fashion faux paus.

Dr. Suzanne Levine, Podiatric Surgeon, New York Presbyterian Hospital
"We had one model that wanted liposuction on the toe."

Dr. Suzanne Levine has been pegged the podiatrist to the stars. She says, today more than ever, men and women, who hate the appearance of their feet, have options...

Dr. Suzanne Levine
"We're seeing more and more patients that have bad scars, unsightly bunions and hammer toes, who want correction."

Common podiatric procedures are: bunion removal, toe shortening and hammer-toe revision.

Bunion removal is when a bony bump at the base of the big toe is cut out, helping the toe to realign. Toe shortening is a technique that removes a little section of bone at the joints and hammer-toe revision corrects a toe that curls over.

Kelli Richards, Patient
"I used to have to pull the strap over the bunion and now I can just slide it right and in and just go about my business."

Kelli Richards never experienced pain in her feet, but always hated the way they looked both in shoes and out, so she decided to do something about it.

Kelli Richards
"I had the bunion removed from my right foot, and I had the second toe shortened, and the fifth toe rotated."

And the impressive part -- Kelly was back on her feet in a week. But many doctor's worry cosmetic corrections can lead to problems.

Dr. John Giurini, Chief of Podiatry, Beth Isreal Deaconess Medical Center
"If it doesn't hurt then I would recommend leaving it alone."

Dr. John Giurini of Beth Israel Medical Center says traditionally foot surgery is performed only when the patient is experiencing pain. For people, who have elective surgery to improve just the foot's appearance, he warns of the risks.

Dr. John Giurini
"They could end up having a painful problem. Now you've traded something that's totally painless for something that's painful."

Latest research shows that 75 percent of Americans will experience foot health problems in their lifetime and women are four times as likely to suffer from them.

But many people believe that bad feet result from wearing bad fitting shoes and experts say that's a big misconception.

Dr. John Giurini
"Many of the problems that we see are usually genetic in nature."

Dr. Suzanne Levine
"Shoes actual aggravate the condition, but shoes never cause the problem."

Dr. Levine believes that after any foot surgery, follow up treatments will take the results a step further.

Dr. Suzanne Levine
"We take everything from dermatology and plastic surgery and then introduce it to the foot."

From lasers to mirco-dermabrasion to foot facials her patients get the works before walking out the door.

Kelli Richards
"I'm obviously doing it, like I said, for aesthetic reasons so having the scar totally removed is important to me."

So important she is planning on getting her other foot done next month.

Insurance companies do pay the cost of podiatric surgery depending on the condition, the cost for foot surgery typically runs upwards of $5,000.

Dr. Levine also sells a foot facial line that anyone can use at home.

For more information:

Dr. Suzanne Levine
Institute Beaute
885 Park Avenue
New York, NY
212-535-0229
www.footfacial.com

Dr. John Giurini
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center- Chief, Division of Podiatry
New England Deaconess Hospital
1 Deaconess Road
Boston, MA
617-632-8428

Podiatry Network

The Foot Health Network

American Podiatric Medical Association