When can I wear high-heels again?

Frequently Asked Question

Patients who achieve adequate range of motion after surgery can try to wear high-heels 6 weeks after surgery, although it may be close to 8-10 weeks before it is comfortable.

Typically, at weeks 6 to 8 there is some residual swelling. That swelling may cause the shoe to feel too tight and therefore uncomfortable. Our goal is to allow every patient to return to high-heeled shoes as soon as possible. The vast majority of patients do return to high-heeled shoes.

If a patient has some significant degree of stiffness after surgery as a result of the healing process, and/or genetically little elasticity to the soft tissues, it may be difficult for them to wear high-heeled shoes. Occasionally, patients with a stiff joint will request to wear high-heeled shoes. We consequently surgically loosen up the joint so that they may wear high-heeled shoes again.