'Toe-besity' Surgery on the Rise

[Hum]

When patients seek out cosmetic surgery from New York-based Dr. Oliver Zong, they're often looking to remove fat, but not from their bellies or thighs.

Zong is a podiatrist, and one of his specialties is slimming down people's fat toes -- "toe-besity," he calls it.

He's been in practice for about a decade, and when he started, toe reshaping was unheard of.

"When people first started asking, I said 'What?'" said Zong, who is surgical director at NYC FootCare. "We were mostly doing toe shortenings in the begining."

Now, he said, more and more people are zoning in on the smaller details of their feet, like the width of their toes.

For many patients, an odd-looking toe is a source of great embarrassment.

E.R., a patient of Zong's, said he hid his fat right big toe for years.

"I always had issues with it," said E.R., who asked to remain anonymous. "It was one of those things that you're just not comfortable with and try to hide it."

On top of being unattractive, the toe also caused discomfort.

"The bone was pushing the nail up, and the nail curved up a little bit, so it was hitting the shoe," he said.

Three weeks ago, the 37-year-old New Yorker had surgery to shave off some fat and bone. His second toe was also a hammertoe, so Zong shaved down the bone of that toe as well.

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[jnelsoninjax]

Sure why not! If you have the money (to waste) why have this done! :D

[Charisma Veteran]

For comfort reasons, like that guy, fine. It was causing him discomfort because it wasn't shaped properly. But seriously? Embarrassed about "fat toes"? Who pays that much attention to feet?? O_o

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

For comfort reasons, like that guy, fine. It was causing him discomfort because it wasn't shaped properly. But seriously? Embarrassed about "fat toes"? Who pays that much attention to feet?? O_o

Foot fetishists.

[Marshall Veteran]

What a superficial culture we live in. If you're that embarrassed about your feet, quit wearing flip-flops and put on a pair of shoes.

[Charisma Veteran]

Foot fetishists.

Ugh. Everyone's entitled to their fetishes, and there are certainly weirder ones out there, but to me feet are just gross. I shudder at the thought of them being sexualised or put in people's mouth or whatever--barf! I won't even get a pedicure or foot massage though, so I guess I'm on the other extreme side. Foot phobia or something :laugh:

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Ugh. Everyone's entitled to their fetishes, and there are certainly weirder ones out there, but to me feet are just gross. I shudder at the thought of them being sexualised or put in people's mouth or whatever--barf! I won't even get a pedicure or foot massage though, so I guess I'm on the other extreme side. Foot phobia or something :laugh:

The medical term is 'podophobia' apparently. I agree, sexualising feet in any way is just wrong. :x

[Growled Member]

What a superficial culture we live in. If you're that embarrassed about your feet, quit wearing flip-flops and put on a pair of shoes.

I agree. Stop being so stupid people.

[Hum]

I scarcely ever notice feet.

[Miuku.]

What a superficial culture we live in. If you're that embarrassed about your feet, quit wearing flip-flops and put on a pair of shoes.

This curiously explains why all adult movies tend to have guys with socks on :p