Fillers in your feet; strange plastic surgery procedure

High heels may look glamorous, but wearing them for hours on end can be grueling -- especially the sky-high styles currently gracing the catwalk. Rather than kicking cruel shoes to the curb, though, some women are turning to dermal fillers to give their feet a little extra cushion. “Dermal fillers in the feet are common in New York City and other places where high heels are part of the culture,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, former president of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

Typically, fillers like Restylane or Perlane or Juvederm are injected into the pad of the toe, the ball of the foot or the heel, but the procedure is considered “highly off-label.” And, perhaps, ill-advised. “We heard from one woman – a dancer – who had her foot pad injected with Juvederm to give her more cushion and she ended up on crutches,” says Tom Seery, president and founder of RealSelf.com, a consumer review site for the cosmetic industry.

“Many of the doctors or clinics that would do this are trying something that’s highly experimental. There is no real science or clinical evidence that it should be used in that manner.” Cost for a pair of “filler heels” runs from $500 to $2,000, according to Schlessinger, with a touch-up required every six months. Gel insoles run a bit cheaper at $20 to $40 a pair.