Women and high heels have always had an unsteady relationship. In 1533, Catherine de’ Medici wore the world’s first pair of high heels, causing a fashion frenzy and making high heels the norm (and mark of stylish distinction) for women in French and Italian courts. Since then, in the ongoing quest to achieve a statuesque look of perfection, women have endured the indignity and discomfort of shoes that are simply painful to wear.
Fast Facts
- The so-called “Cinderella Procedure” is a preventive bunion correction that results in a narrower foot.
- The point of the Cinderella Procedure is to be able to wear a shoe that didn’t fit comfortably before.
- The Cinderella Procedure is actually a combination of procedures used together to achieve the desired results.
The so-called “Cinderella Procedure” is a preventive bunion correction that results in a narrower foot. It’s goal is to make it easier for women to squeeze into stillettos. “It’s unrealistic to tell women not to wear high heels. I came up with procedures that allow the women to function, pain-free, in the real world.” said Ali Sadrieh, podiatrist and creator of the Cinderella Procedure, in an article for the Wall Street Journal.
Getting Feet to Shape Up
The point of the Cinderella Procedure is to be able to wear a shoe that didn’t fit comfortably before. The technique is almost as old as the fairy tale that inspired its name. Podiatrists have a long and rich history of re-contouring feet to make walking more comfortable for men and women alike. The Cinderella Procedure, performed exclusively for cosmetic reasons, reduces foot size with a surgery that removes bunions and brings the bone on the side of the big toe inwards. This allows women to wear high-fashion brands such as Christian Louboutin and Manolo Blahnik which are notorious for their narrow fit.
Who Is a Good Candidate
There are no specific criteria identifying a good candidate for the Cinderella Procedure, but you should be in good general health. You may be asked to stop taking medications a few days before surgery, particularly if you take aspirin or other blood-thinning drugs. Also, you need to stop smoking before any medical procedure. Additionally, your surgeon will seek to ensure that you have realistic goals for your procedure, which is an important factor in your ultimate satisfaction as a patient.
What to Expect Before, During & After the Procedure
The Cinderella Procedure is actually a combination of procedures used together to achieve the desired results. Generally a local anesthetic called an ankle block is administered but sometimes the procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic. An ankle block makes sure you are numb below the ankle but awake for the surgery. Once you are completely numb, your surgeon will perform some or all of the following:
- An Osteotomy – in which the surgeon cuts the big toe joint and realigns it to a normal position.
- An Exostectomy – in which the surgeon removes the bunion from the joint without performing alignment.
- An Arthrodesis – in which the surgeon replaces the damaged joint with screws or metal plates to correct the deformity.
You may also opt for additional surgeries to be performed at the same time. These might include toe-shortening, toe-lengthening, and fat pad augmentation or, as they’re nicknamed, the Perfect 10, the Model T and the Foot Tuck. After surgery your foot will be bandaged, and you will be taken to a recovery room where your blood pressure and heart rate will be monitored. Unless there is a problem, you will be permitted to go home after a couple of hours in recovery. Post-operative swelling resolves in 3-6 months. At that time, you will be able to see that your foot is much narrower and, if you have opted for additional procedures, a little shorter, too.
Possible Risks and Complications
According to Podiatry Today, complications from the Cinderella Procedure may include:
- Joint stiffness
- Nerve entrapment
- Excessive toe shortening
- Swelling
- Infection
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Complex regional pain syndrome
Despite the fact that orthopedic surgeons say foot surgery should be done solely to help deformities and pain, cosmetic foot surgery is on the increase. “The desire to get into fashionable shoes is a major driving force behind the decision to have foot surgery to narrow feet and shorten toes…However, our doctors caution against doing surgery purely for aesthetic reasons because 1-3% of foot surgeries can be disasters.” says Dr. Josef Geldwert from The Center for Podiatric Care and Sports Medicine in New York City.
Rough Costs Involved
Costs for foot surgery can be around $2500 AUD per foot plus hospital fees, anaesthetist fees and surgical assistants (if required) which can add another $2500 – $4000 in total. In other words, foot surgery or the “cinderella procedure” might cost:
- Surgeon’s fees: $1100 – $2500 per foot i.e. $2000 – $5000 total for both feet
- Hospital fees, anaesthetist, surgical assistant fees: $2500 – $4000
- A total of around $4500 – $9000 or more depending on the surgeon.
For a complete picture of the cost of this procedure, schedule a consultation visit with a qualified doctor which you can find by searching here. Together you can discuss Cinderella Procedure specifics and create a personalised treatment plan and price estimate.
I just think my feet are too damn fat. I’m a very petite and short girl so they really look odd on me. I just want them thinner so they don’t look weird.
Same here ..my feet are too big for me
I’m 16 yrs . I’m wearing size 13. That’s size 45 men. I stopped wearing girly shoes when I was 10 or 11 . It’s uncomfortable to have very long and flat feet. I can’t borrow shoes. I don’t have shoes only sneakers. I can’t wear heels. I don’t know if the the surgery can make my foot shorter and narrower. If I can get my feet to become smaller I’ll be more confident about life. Because I have many problems. I also have a very bad knocked knee and one is leg is shorter than one with almost 2inches. I don’t know how to face the world with all this insecurities, in top of that I’m 6ft. But I’m just a 16year old. What should I do
i have very long narrow feet, especially a very large big toe. i was wondering a foot tuck surgery would be able to make my feet smaller and would i still be able to run?
Oh boy I’m sorry to hear about this I’d suggest wait until you are 18 and talk to a plastic foot surgeon to see what options are open for you. Get a job and save save save as soon as you can! If this procedure can be done, it may just improve your life so much you’ll never regret it
Research regional complex pain syndrome. It is very common after these surgeries are performed, they are just not spoken about. You are 16 yrs old, unless you medically need it do not stress about the atheistic of your foot, you will only end up with complications like complex regional pain syndrome.
I have a painful Protruding bone on my big toe especially when i put on closed shoes, my foot is so big and flat from from front to back. I find it hard to get a fitting shoe. People always comment and offend me because of my big foot and I hate it so much yet i live a humble life, cant afford the
surgery yet i want it so passionately. Is there any good Samaritan to help me pliz?
ìHi I lwould like more info on your procedures
Save money or earn more money, that is the only way we can buy things we want. I’m sorry to hear that money is an issue but where there is a will there is a way. I won’t suggest this as a good idea but I’m just putting it out there as an option: get a loan
I have extra extra wide and ill shaped feet my ankle are extremely swollen sometimes I’m in severe pain due to my big feet and I can’t find comfortable shoes even if I size up and I am so insecure to wear flip flop I would really like to know if you guys can help me
I’m a male, currently 14 and I am a size 6 in men’s. My feet are wide and I really, REALLY, hate my feet. Every day I am so embarrassed to go outside. I really want to get surgery done on my feet. Could you tell me which is the best surgery I could get done on my feet and how much it would cost? I would also like to know which surgeons are the best to go to and how long it will take. Don’t expect me to immediately go and get surgery done, though. It may be years until I get surgery done on my revolting body. I want permanent hair removal and I want to have perfect feet. I would really like to know what names of surgeries I could get done and how much they will cost and who to go to so I am better prepared in the future for when I can afford to get surgery done and know where to go. No, I will not change my mind and no I will not learn to accept my body. If something goes wrong, then that’s that. I’d rather die than live any longer in this revolting body. Please and thank you.
You are so lucky I am 16 with size 13 foot I just want a smaller and narrow foot 😭😭
As I am not a qualified medical professional I suggest you wait until you are 18 or legally an adult before you consult with a plastic surgeon. If your parents are happy to pay this for you then it’s great, but save your money. That’s the only way to get things in life that you want
I have size 12 wide feet problems and it really does affect my life in someway. It’s so hard for me to find shoes I can only wear flip flops/thongs. Would you guys be able to assist please?
I have wide feet. I hate it. 90% of these stores ONLY sell shoes for women with smaller, slimmer feet. Its very hard finding shoes for my feet and when i do, its too expensive. Most of the time, i have to wear the same sandals because some just dont fit my feet. I really just want slimmer feet and nicer toes. Is that too much to ask for?
I had a accident when I was about 8 years old that made my left foot only grow to about a size 8 and my right foot is a size 11 due to weight gain which normally should be a size 9 and I also have flat feet from birth. Can health insurance pay for this procedure?
The dead skin on my heels and on the sides comes back overnight, what’s the cause and how do I treat it? It is also darker
Your shoes may be too small and that may be a callus you have to treat it and let your feet breathe
I’m a size 9-10 in women’s I just want narrow feet.
I have size 10-11 womens but very wide. Yes many places to buy wide shoes but all very expensive! So even that is not an option for many! Can’t afford the surgery or the shoes! Stuck!
I have the same problem only right now im in 9th grade and thats the thing that both friend family and classmates pick on. If there was any way that I could make my feet smaller without any casualties I would do it. But unfortunately there’s always pros and cons to each and every situation….
I’m sorry that happens I have big feet and I feel bad about them you are not alone I wish you the best
It’s not how narrow or wide that makes a woman’s feet attractive . It’s where a woman’s feet is wide and where it’s narrow . The widest part of the foot should be the distance between the big toe and little toe. The foot should get narrower as it flows back to the ankle . There should be no bunions . The big toe should point ever so slightly away from the little toe . The big toe should either be the longest toe or very close to be the longest toe . It is acceptable if the second toe is slightly longer than the big toe but not by much . As you move from your big toe to the little toe each tie should get progressively shorter . You should have high arches . Get foot peels often .
Louis – your perspective of visible beauty should be wider than it is and the organ inside your skull should be larger. I suggest trying the advice-sharing fast and getting condescension peels often.
Welp! I wear a size 6 and 7 in kids and i want my shoe size to be a size 5.
What is your address I wanna make appointment
so my feet are 2 different sizes i wear a size 11 in mens and a size 8 on the other foot i am a 14 year old girl and i was wondering if i could get it fixed with the same operation
Damn…you all got big foot….I have 2 different foot..due to some genetic disease the charcot marie tooth…my feet is very small…I use kid’s size shoes on one feet and the other one is size normal…if only I have a normal feet would be enough
Thanks captain obvious that’s why they are here. Let’s be a little more polite due to people already feeling bad about stuff they can’t fix
Same goes for you. Your comment is ruder than the person above you.
I have ugly feet I just want them to be pretty
same
Same :/
Hi I’m a 13 year old girl and I wear a size 10 in mens and I hate my feet and I was wondering if a doctor could get me to a size 8 in womens. if that is possible
Hello darling! I just came across your comment and feel compelled to reach out to you – from one big-footed lady to another. My heart hurts for you because I see so much of my 13-year-old self in your comment, and I understand all your frustrations. I’m 26 now (size 11 mens!) and YES it’s a really difficult problem – you get so embarrassed when people make comments, you can’t borrow shoes from friends, shoe shopping is beyond a nightmare. Oh yes, I understand it all! But I promise, as impossible as this may seem to you right now, you WILL make peace with your feet in time. While you’ve been disappointed countless times while shoe shopping in the past, and you will sadly have many more of these experiences to come, they get less and less bothersome over time. We are very blessed to have many larger size ladies’ shoes available to us these days, be it online or at specialty shoe shops across Australia. This is, believe it or not, only a fairly recent concept – before this, there were just ugly men’s shoes. Yes, even if you needed *SOMETHING* nice to wear with a dress. There was no such thing as an elegant option at all! Not even the ugliest womens shoe in our size (you know the type I’m talking about; the brown leather, orthotic-friendly flats sometimes with embroidered flowers or velcro straps hahaha). Times are changing and brands are starting to cater more and more generously for larger feet which is great! One thing I’ll never tell you is that you *shouldn’t* be upset or insecure – you have every right to feel this way. It’s heartbreaking, and people who don’t know the struggle find it very easy to invalidate us by pointing out that we should stop feeling this way because there are people who are blind, or in wheelchairs, or terminally ill. There will always be someone else with more over difficulties, and yes we can count our blessings in that respect, but acknowledging that doesn’t magically erase all our insecurities and mental exhaustion over what others may see as a “trivial” issue. You are allowed to sulk! Lastly, and I cannot stress this enough: Take really good care of your feet. Don’t cram them into shoes that are too small just because you don’t want to acknowledge that you are a size bigger! I was so embarrassed about the size printed on my shoes throughout my teens that I did this to convince myself that I was smaller lol. If I could turn back time, I’d immediately and without question go straight for the size that actually fits. Your future self will thank you for it! X
this comment was everything. i’m 26 as well & still can’t believe how my shoe size still affect me . i wear a size 12 & i’m 5”9 i use to always get mad about how girls my height have smaller feet . mad when shoe stores stop at 11. I got dragged in school for my feet getting the basic name big foot . it started bothering me all over again looking for cute shoes for a summer trip . but she’s so right you will learn to accept yourself !
I’m so happy to read your message. I’d like to add that I’ve met a number of men in my life who love big feet on women. Not that it would matter to everyone. Just wanted to mention that not everyone has a negative opinion of lovely, large feet.
this is super sweet <3
Same 🙁
My feet are so wide and flat (no arch). They disform all the shoes I wear, which I hate. I am so conscience about it that I have never worn high heels in 33yrs of my life. I just want to look pretty in heels and have feet I am comfortable and confident in. Is it even possible to achieve this goal? What surgery could help?
I hope that this doesn’t come off as insensitive. I can completely relate to being 13 and hating many aspects of myself, i was overweight. Incredibly tall, and I have big feet. It doesn’t help that other people, for some reason, make unwanted and rude remarks about the bodies of others. Media and shoe stores have reinforced the message that women need to have small feet. When I was growing up, I didnt bother to ever find women’s shoes because most stores only went to a size 9 or 10 and all of the shoes were narrow. I remember feeling so sad that I didnt have “normal” feet. Megs is 100% correct that there are so many options now. I had my wedding 2 years ago and found some gorgeous gold sparkly shoes with a small heel and they were plenty wide for my feet. When I look at pictures of myself from that day, I see someone who looks great, but more importantly looks happy. I stopped hating my feet a long time ago. My feet are a part of me and I dont need or want them to look like someome else’s. Having said that, I have had plastic surgery before and never judge people for it. Self love is import, but I do understand that a component of that is changing the things that you want to or need to change to feel positively about yourself. My only advice as a woman who has gone through self-image issues and both good and bad plastic surgeries is to take time to really consider the pros/cons of what you want. You also need to remember (every plastic surgeon who I’ve ever spoken to has said this to me) that the objective is to try to give you a better appearance than you had before, but it may not be as dramatic as you want. I’m sorry that I’m posting so long after you did and that you will probably never read this. Please know that you are not alone and please reach out for support from those who care about you whenever you need it. I hope that you are doing well and you’re in my thoughts.
Can this surgery reduce my foot 1 size?
I would like to know how succesfull Cinderella surgery is for men with various foot disorders. I have flat feet (not sure what type possible rigid). I wear a size 14 D width in amen’s shoe. Please explain to me what is involved in Cinderella surgery?
I was wondering if I could get the Cinderella fit surgery and how much would it cost to fix both feet I’m extremely pain and also I don’t like the look of it
I will like to know how much the foot surgery cost
I just want to know is the Cinderella Procedure only works on only the bunion part or can it be done to reduce foot size ?
Same here, I really want to know
I was intrested in finding out about the cinderella procedurel. Is it just the bunion part they fix or the side of the foot as well?
I would have a bone coming out the side of my foot it’s painful
I would like to know if I have the procedure will the pain be gone
Kind regards
Nicole
I would like to know how many sizes can my feet shrink?