This article is excerpted from Glow Beauty Magazine. To read the full article, click here. 

Binions be Gone! Untreated bunions and deformed toes caused by years of abuse, and ill-fitting shoes, wreaks havoc on the female foot. Dr. Neil Blitz has coined the term “high heel hangover” for this rather common condition. “The joints just don’t hold up over time and around 50, you start feeling it”, says Dr. Blitz, a leading authority on Aesthetic and Reconstructive Foot Surgery with a private practice in  Manhattan.  Dr. Blitz in an innovator in the treatment of bunions and creator of the Bunionplasty procedure.

What Conditions do High Heels and Pointy-toe Shoes Cause?

Most visual changes involve the toe and front part of the foot. The front foot starts to take on the shape of the pointytoe shoe and the big toe is pushed outward and the small, pinky toe pushed inward. The middle toes become buckled and folded onto one another. In medical terms, high heeled shoes cause bunion of the great toe, hammer toes of the middle toes, and bunionette of the small toe.

What is a High Heel Foot Makeover?

A high heel makeover involves surgically correcting the structural problems that are the result of long term high heel wear. Depending on the extent of the problem, the surgery is tailored to your particular need. In most cases, a bunion deformity is the most prevalent part of the high heel foot, and a bunionplasty is almost always recommended. Dr. Blitzevaluates each toe independently; in many cases, the high heel makeover consists of surgery of the bunion and multiple toes.

When Should I Seek Treatment?

The decision to seek treatment is different for everyone. Pain is the motivating factor with most patients. The pain may manifest in the bunion region, ball of the foot and/or directlyon the toes. The inability to wear shoes or to be active is a common complaint. Patients seek treatment to improve the physical appearance of the foot and often to get back into high heels and pointy-toe shoes.

How do I choose a Surgeon? 

Dr. Blitz is Board Certified in Foot surgery and Reconstructive Foot Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPS) and is a Fellow of the American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons. Dr. Blitz has over 13 years of major experience in the field and treats simple and complex foot problems. Further info at www.bunionsurgeryny.com.