Name: Stiletto Botox.
Age: First emerged in 2016, but it’s now going viral.
Appearance: Mainly on TikTok.
What is it? It’s exactly what it sounds like.
It doesn’t sound like anything – just two random words put together. It couldn’t be simpler: it’s Botox, but for high heels.
I think it could be a great deal simpler. Or more precisely, for high-heel wearers.
I don’t understand. As you may or may not know, walking in high heels can be absolute agony. But a practical solution has been found.
Not wearing high heels? Several injections of Botox – the botulinum toxin used to treat facial wrinkles – directly into the foot.
Is this for real? Once a professional celebrity secret, stiletto Botox is becoming mainstream, thanks to social media.
What does the Botox do? It stops certain muscles contracting and makes your foot go a bit numb. No more pain!
But the cause of the pain is still there. It’s like recommending aspirin to someone whose head is clamped in a bench vice. In addition to the Botox, dermal fillers are injected into the balls of the feet to provide more cushioned support.
That really sounds like a lot. It certainly costs a lot. A stiletto Botox treatment – AKA a “Loub job”, named after the shoe designer Christian Louboutin – will set you back upwards of about £600 in London.
Think how many pairs of nice, smart flats you could buy for that. But after the 20-minute procedure, happy customers report being able to wear stiletto heels all day without pain or swelling.
If you paralyse the muscles in someone’s feet, don’t they fall over? If you can walk in stilettos, you can walk with paralysed foot muscles.
Are you saying there are no downsides to this procedure? In the right hands, stiletto Botox is quick, convenient and completely safe. However …
However what? There are the usual risks – allergic reactions, bruising, infection.
OK. Anything else? Apparently, the injections hurt quite a bit because feet are sensitive. And the effects are temporary, so you will probably need to repeat the procedure every three or four months.
Great. I can’t wait. It should probably also be said that nobody knows the full long-term effects of this kind of repeated treatment, especially when combined with unrelieved stiletto-wearing.
I think it might be cheaper to hire someone to carry me around on their shoulders. You may even be able to start a TikTok trend.
Do say: “Who’s ready to dance all night and all day tomorrow?”
Don’t say: “Thanks to the procedure, I’ve been able to keep my head clamped in this vice all week!”
