Toe Shortening Is A Thing And It’s Actually Very Common

Foot Consultant/Facebook

You can have surgery to make your toes shorter, and it’s actually a pretty common thing. 

Feet are a strange part of the body. Everyone seems to have something a little odd about their feet, whether it be a missing toenail, a hunched over little toe, or the ability to spread your toes unnaturally far apart.

For some people, the talking point of the foot is the length of their toes. Or more specifically, often the length of their second toe.

It’s pretty common to have a long ‘index’ toe; I’ve even been told in the past it means you’d be a good dancer, as it would help you with the ability to point your feet.

Foot Consultant/Facebook

But it seems some people just don’t want to be good dancers, and would rather have surgery to ensure their toes slope from big to small.

Some people are also opting for toe shortening surgery because the toes are getting damaged due to their added length. If this is the case, surgery is one of the only option, aside from adding padding.

Long toes can make the toes buckle, which over time becomes permanent and puts added pressure on the tip of the toe and on the knuckle.

The surgery sounds simple enough – but still pretty gruesome, so be warned if you’re squeamish. While under a local anaesthetic, the long toe is cut open and a section of the bone is removed, making the toe shorter.

The bone is then remodelled into shape and held in place with a wire or an implant. Most patients have just three stitches to close the toe back up and scrunch the excess skin around the newly shortened toe.

Easy peasy.

The surgery does come with some risks, such as infection, swelling and deformity – and of course the chance you might turn into a terrible dancer – but many people are taking the risk.

Your new tiny toes could take some getting used to, but it’s expected patients would be back on their feet within a few weeks.

Of course, creating your perfect feet comes at a price, so you better take the opportunity to show them off afterwards. There’s no excuse for socks and sandals any more.

Paulina Charlikowska spoke to the Daily Mail about her toe shortening experience:

It took an hour and although I couldn’t feel anything, I could hear my bones being sawed and crunched, which was horrible. There was no pain afterwards, but I had wires in my toes for five weeks and one toe became infected, so I had to take antibiotics.

After the wires were removed I walked using crutches for a couple of weeks before I could walk normally again, although I couldn’t exercise for six months.

Now I’m fully healed I have small scars, but they’re barely noticeable, and my feet are a size smaller now, too.

While it might have its benefits, I’m not sure I could handle the noise of crunching bone. If you’re considering the surgery, maybe think about taking some headphones in there with you?

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to [email protected].

Emily Brown

Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.