| CFS is a trend that’s been growing over the | | | | for? |
| last 10 years. For some, it’s a way to relieve | | | | A podiatrist or orthopedist would shudder at the |
| pain while getting a “foot lift.” For | | | | thought of performing surgery on perfectly good |
| others, it’s a way to complete the surgical | | | | feet just to shorten someone’s |
| enhancement that began with their face, chest, and | | | | “ugly” toes. But a person trained in |
| legs. In a way, CFS is the “final | | | | cosmetic surgery may argue that their client’s |
| frontier,” cosmetically speaking. | | | | self-esteem is suffering due to their deformed foot, |
| As to public and professional opinion, there are two | | | | or some Frankenstein-like scars left by a previous |
| camps; those who condemn this type of surgery and | | | | surgeon. This doctor knows that the customers are |
| those who find it beneficial, each side’s | | | | not always right- but they’re the ones paying |
| reasoning based on the perceived need for such | | | | the bills. |
| procedures. | | | | But what of the doctor’s promise to |
| Any medical procedure involving the foot is usually | | | | “do no harm?” Is a person trained in |
| done for one of three reasons: | | | | cosmetic surgery breaking that vow by straightening |
| 1) Medical. The patient is suffering from the pain and | | | | toes, or shortening them, or narrowing the whole |
| discomfort of bunions, spurs, corns, excess bone | | | | foot so it will better fit into that beautiful pair of |
| tissue, broken bones, mallet or hammertoes, or | | | | shoes the patient just spent $250 on- even at the |
| fungus. | | | | risk of future complications related to the operation? |
| 2) Reconstructive. Work needs to be done to | | | | Problems like infection, corns, chronic pain while |
| restore function, or create function where there was | | | | walking, and nerve damage? |
| none before. Previous surgeries, accidents, birth | | | | Some will say that they always warn the patient |
| defects, or complications from cosmetic surgery may | | | | about the risks far in advance, then send them home |
| be the cause of the debilitation. | | | | to think about the wisdom of going through with the |
| 3) Cosmetic. A patient may want to be rid of | | | | procedure. But having done that, what else can the |
| unsightly scars or dark areas on the skin. They may | | | | doctor say or do? If the operation is not |
| have disfigured toes or complain about feet not | | | | life-threatening, then it’s on the |
| fitting into tight-fitting shoes. Regardless of the | | | | patient’s shoulders- or feet, in this case. |
| reason, it is nothing more than plastic surgery done | | | | Maybe the solution is the one provided by those |
| on a healthy, fully-functioning foot to make it look | | | | doctors who combine the best of both worlds- |
| better. | | | | corrective and cosmetic surgery. Or the orthopedic |
| But regardless of the reason, there’s an | | | | surgeon who, due to better education and technique, |
| ethical question involved. At what point does a | | | | follows a new creed: “Do no harm, and leave |
| trained and licensed professional tell a client that they | | | | no scars. |
| will not perform a service the client is willing to pay | | | | |