Your foot is designed with a layer of fatty tissue between the skin and bone that acts as a natural cushion to help protect the underlying bones, tendons and vascular structures of your feet.   Sometimes, this fat pad can become stretched, damaged or displaced as a result of injury or aging, causing aching pains in your heel or the ball of your foot.  In the case of diabetic patients, foot fat pads may develop chronic wounds that are difficult to heal.  Inadequate or damaged fat pads in your feet can make walking painful, running impossible, and wearing high heels out of the question.  For diabetic patients, injury to the foot fat pad can lead to more serious complications.

At NYC FootCare, Dr. Zong uses the most advanced techniques for foot fat pad augmentation, allowing for better results with minimal incisions and quicker recovery than with other types of procedures.  Dr. Zong uses a soft-tissue graft that is derived from human dermis and contains collagen fibers. The graft acts as a framework to replace lost or damaged tissue, while actually helping the body to heal itself.  Making a small incision in the affected area, Dr. Zong creates a pocket in the deep subcutaneous tissue of the foot and then inserts the graft.  Over time, the graft will gradually be incorporated and then converted into your own tissue, while encouraging your body to produce new tissue.  This procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis with recovery times as short as two weeks, depending on your individual circumstances. 

With foot fat pad augmentation, you don’t have to put up with foot pain anymore.  By repairing or replacing your foot’s natural cushion, Dr. Zong can help you return to doing all the activities you love.  Fat pad augmentation is not recommended for people with certain medical conditions.  Talk to Dr. Zong to find out if foot fat pad augmentation is right for you.