The Harley Medical Group is a chain of cosmetic surgery clinics in the U.K. Recently their London facilities have been reporting that more women have been asking for dermal filler treatments in their feet.

This Foot Filler procedure began in 2008 among women who came for BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments and also asked for something to make their feet more comfortable in high heels. When you wear high heels all day at work, your feet can become sore and tired, especially if your job requires much standing or walking. During 2009, many more women asked for filler injections in their feet rather than change the style of shoes they wore.

Using dermal fillers such as Restylane or Sculptra for the feet plumps up the soles and thus gives more protection to the foot bones. However, since the entire weight of the body is pressing down on that treated area, the effects do not last very long – three months at the most. When you wear high heels, the body weight is pressing down on an even smaller area, just the toe areas. Foot Filler procedures are costing £240, which is about $400.

One wonders if a Foot Filler procedure requires buying a different shoe size. If the feet are more bulky, one’s current shoes might feel too tight and in spending £240 to relieve one discomfort, you might create a new one. Not to mention the added expense of new shoes.

How Dermal Fillers Work

Each brand of filler works differently. Restylane®, Captique™, and Hylaform use hyaluronic acid, which attracts water. It holds water in the injected area, beneath the skin, which creates a plumpness for rejuvenating the face. For feet, the water adds more mass between the foot bones and the ground.

Sculptra® uses polylactic acid crystals. They are dissolved in the injected Sculptra but as the body absorbs the fluid, the crystals remain in the skin’s middle layer, the dermis. Their presence stimulates new skin cell production, thickening the dermis and plumping up the skin surface for a more youthful look.

Radiesse® uses calcium-based microspheres. They are injected in a water-based gel and as the body absorbs the water, the spheres remain in the dermis, stimulating collagen production. This gives support to the skin surface, smoothing out lines and wrinkles.

If you would like to know more about the various facial fillers available, and discuss with Dr. Rai which one would work best for you, please contact The Cosmetic Surgical Center today and we will schedule a free consultation for you.