For an A-lister, all those red-carpet appearances in high heels can take a serious toll on one’s feet.
Now it appears many are finding the solution to their troubles in a treatment normally associated with the face – Botox.
The procedure – known as a ‘stiletto lift’ or a ‘Loub job’, after Christian Louboutin shoes – involves injecting botulinum toxin and dermal filler into the arch and ball of the foot.
It is said to offer relief from the pain of designer footwear, with Nicole Kidman among those thought to have tried it.
Nicole Kidman attends a red-carpet – in very high heels – at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2024
Stars are turning to Botox to alleviate their foot pain and ‘cushion their feet’ in high heels
Botox is regularly prescribed as a medical treatment to stop excessive sweating on the hands, feet and under the arms.
Consultant plastic surgeon Aenone Harper-Machin, who runs a private clinic in Chester, said stopping the sweat can aid stability and reduce friction.
Botox can also alleviate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis, the most common cause of foot pain among women aged 40 to 60.
Meanwhile, the fillers are said to act as a cushion pad and absorb pressure.
But Mrs Harper-Machin, a spokesman for the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, warned: ‘People risk an infection or a blockage in an artery if their clinician gets it wrong, and they could even lose a toe.’
Julia Roberts wears a gold Sole Bliss shoe to the premiere of Ticket to Paradise in 2022
The procedure costs between £1,500 and £2,000 and the effects last around four months.
Lisa Kay, chief executive of shoe brand Sole Bliss, said: ‘We know that a lot of celebrities are now using Botox to cushion their feet.
‘However, comfortable heels do exist. Stars like Julia Roberts, Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep wear our shoes for red-carpet events to keep their feet comfortable, even in five-inch heels.’