If you’ve been visiting Your Next Shoes for a while now, we assume you relate the term “toe job” to something about shoes. While it sounds like it could be a fetish, it’s actually an operation where cushioning fillers are injected into the toes, heels, and balls of the feet.
Dubbed the ‘Loub Job’ after Christian Louboutin, this procedure aims to make wearing heels easier and more comfortable.
The Sun reports that British surgeons are seeing a boom among women getting these foot ops. The number of Loub jobs has doubled within just the past few years.
Victoria Beckham stuns in sky-high stilettos, showcasing her iconic style and dedication to fashion despite the discomfort of towering heels (Credit: Patricia Schlein / WENN)
It’s no coincidence that the demand for this operation increased when 5, 6, and even 7-inch stilettos became the latest shoe trend. Notorious celebrity high-heel wearers like Victoria Beckham have also contributed to the proliferation of sky-high stilts.
We’re all for making shoes more comfortable for women with insoles, pads, and gels, but to actually alter your feet with surgery? This just might be where we, as a shoe-crazed community, draw the line.
How far would you go for fashion? Do you think these celebrities should fix their ugly feet? A Loub job costs about $750, and its effect of lessening the pain caused by wearing heels lasts up to six months. The procedure involves injecting dermal filler into the feet, a method invented by Suzanne Levine, DPM.
In these videos, celebrity podiatric surgeon Dr. Suzanne Levine demonstrates two new toe job procedures for women who love high heels. She also told Refinery29 about her impressive shoe collection.
I love everyone’s shoes,” she said, revealing that her collection consists of 300+ pairs of shoes. “My go-to pairs might be a Michael Kors boot for daytime, or a Gucci heel when I’m going out, and I love Prada and Louboutins, even though those can sometimes be a foot challenge.”
The Loub Job: A Surgical Solution for High-Heel Pain
According to Dr. Vincent Masson, a plastic surgeon in Paris, the “Loub Job” involves injecting hyaluronic acid or performing fat transfer (lipofilling) into the foot’s pressure points to alleviate discomfort when wearing high heels. This procedure provides extra cushioning, reducing pain associated with prolonged use of stilettos.
Techniques Used:
- Hyaluronic Acid Injections: A naturally occurring substance is injected to enhance foot cushioning. The results typically last 6 to 9 months.
- Lipofilling (Fat Transfer): Fat is harvested from another part of the body, purified, and injected into the foot. This method offers a more permanent solution.
Procedure and Recovery:
Both techniques are performed under local anesthesia. Hyaluronic acid injections can be completed in 15–30 minutes, while lipofilling requires a short hospital stay due to the fat harvesting process. Patients can usually resume walking the same day, with minor discomfort, redness, or swelling that subsides within a few days.
Expected Outcomes:
While the “Loub Job” does not eliminate foot pain, patients report a 50% to 75% reduction in discomfort, depending on heel height and shoe quality. For more details about the procedure, visit Dr. Vincent Masson.