They are probably a woman’s best friend after diamonds. Stilettos add to height and also make a style statement.
But with the perks come the pitfalls. Any woman would tell you the agonising pain after wearing stilettos for a long duration.
Now, there’s relief for those who love their heels but dread the thought of standing on them for long periods — an effective, albeit costly and slightly painful, solution is at hand.
Cosmetic surgeons in the city are offering ‘foot fillers’ — dermal filler injections in the ball of the foot to ease the pain caused by wearing stilettos or high heels.
“Dermal fillers are used for facial aesthetic treatments,” Dr Satish Bhatia, dermatologist and skin surgeon, Lady Ratan Tata Research Centre, Cooperage, said.
“They can be used to smoothen facial lines and wrinkles, create fuller lips, and shape facial contours like cheeks and the chin," Dr Rohini Saheba, cosmetic surgeon, said. "They can also be used to hide signs of ageing on the back of the hands for ladies who are 40-45 years old.”
During a visit to the US for a convention a few months ago, Dr Bhatia heard his colleagues talk about the increasing demand for foot fillers in America. “I began offering it to my clients in Mumbai because it is popular and one of the safest fillers,” he said.
Though publicity is only by word-of-mouth, Dr Bhatia is already seeing four clients a month. “Dermal filler consists of a soft, injectable gel consisting of hyaluronic acid. The gel is tissue-friendly and closely resembles the hyaluronic acid that exists naturally in the body, and is absorbed easily,” he said.
The injection costs between Rs12,000 and Rs15,000 and is administered under local anaesthesia. Very thin needles are used to minimise pain. “The patient can put pressure on the heel immediately as the filler offers cushioning support. For up to eight months after the 15-minute procedure, there won’t be any pain after wearing stilettos,” he said.
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