My daughter has two non-sperated toes on each foot. The dr. says it's an easy fix to just sperate the skin in a simple surgery. We really don't think about it in fall and winter and at school when she has sock on most of the time. In summer she is very self-conciues wearing sandals or flip-flops that show her toes. She is only 7yrs. old so I am not sure if I should take her to fix it yet or wait a little longer. I never knew anyone to say anything to her, but she is bothered by it. I am just not sure what I should do. Thank you in advance for the advice.
Thanks for all the advice. I will give a call to her dr. and see if I can get a referal on someone who can take care of this. I agree that it's a good idea to do over the summer so she doesn't miss school. It's also a good idea to take her out for a pedicure and new sandals after it's done. I will let you know more later.
I would have it done now so that she can build her self confidence back up. If it bothers her that bad have it done and get it over with. Why wait?
You said it,she is bothered by it so why not take her and get it fixed. It is almost summer. get it done early so she can enjoy her summer and her sandals.
I would go ahead and do it. I mean, it's not like you're getting her lipo or a boob job.
If she is self conscious about her toes, and it is a simple surgery, just have it done.
At 7 she is beginning up that slippery slope of self esteem and body awareness. Why add to the confusion.
After she is healed take her out for a "pedicure" and buy her a new pair of sandals so she can admire her "new toes".
I'd do it if it were my child, do it now while she's little and do it in summer while out of school. It is a simple surgery.
If she's self-conscious, do it now. What is the benefit in waiting? Has the doctor said there's a reason to wait? If there's no medical reason to delay it, and plenty of emotional reason to do it now, that would seem to make the decision simple. Are you concerned about the surgery and that's why you are hesitant? If so, get another opinion, either from a surgeon or a podiatrist - your pediatrician can make a referral for you and they are used to being asked for 2nd opinions.
Get it done now. Willing to bet it's a fast/simple surgery and she'd have the summer to heal up and not have to worry about another kid stepping on her feet at school during recess or gym class.
If it bothers her, have the surgery done. It will only bother her more as time goes on. I don't see the benefit to waiting until someone else says something to her.
I'm with everyone else, if she's asking for it & there's no medical reason to hold off, go for it. It's not going to take care of itself, right? My daughter had a goofy muscle separation thing going on in her abdomen when she was tiny so if she was laying on her back & sat up there would be a ridge showing while her muscles contracted, but her pediatrician told me they'd keep an eye on it & if it didn't correct itself by the time she was 4 years old they would do a surgery. Luckily, it did just self-correct so we didn't have to deal with it, but if it hadn't, we would have gotten it done just as soon as the dr. said we safely could.
If she wants to do it, I'd let her do it. Kids start to get mean as the years go on and why give them any reason to pick on her. Plus, even if no one notices, she is telling you that she does feel self concious about it, so why make her go through that. As a girl, we have so many things to worry about already! Let her fix it.
Her self image and self esteem are being built right now and she is ashamed of her feet. That will lead her to being ashamed of herself and her whole life will be changed if these are not treated soon.
Good job mamma, I am glad you are going to let her get them fixed.
What are some of your concerns? They may be very valid concerns that we just haven't thought of.
My son needed to have surgery at 10 months (could have been as early as 6 months, but they couldn't fit him in sooner). The doctor, nurses and other parents whose children had had the surgery all recommended getting it done sooner rather than later. "Just get it over with," they said. Our son has no memory of it and the sooner you get this done for your daughter, the less she will remember later down the road.
Good luck with your decision. I'm sure you'll do the right thing for your little girl.
If she wants it done I would. Go ahead and get it over with!
If you know this is something that you will get done I would get it done sooner rather than later. The younger they are the quicker they bounce back and the sooner the healing will begin and the less the embarrassment will be.
I am on the verge of getting the skin my daughter's front top teeth clipped so she will not have a gap. We can't do anything until she loses a tooth, so they're saying. As soon as they say we can get it done I'll be doing it to get it over with.
K. B
mom to 5 including triplets
Aww, sweet girl.
I just wanted to add my experience, take it for what it is.
My brother was born w/ 2 of his fingers fused together. They did surgery to separate them when he was 6 months. old. He now (25) has 2 fingers he cannot fully extend and really needs to have another surgery.
So, I would say take her to a specialist. Make sure it is as cut and dry as the Dr. said.
Make sure to ask if her growing toes will be free to grow-that the scar tissue will not pull her toes back. My brothers fingers were not free to grow.
He says it does not bother him...but he is a musician and I am sure it can be annoying.
Just ask a lot of questions. And if you don't get the right answers I would wait till her feet are done growing.
Hope this helps. No intent to scare you, just want to make you aware.
Hope it goes well! :)
If she is feeling self-conscious about it, I would just go ahead and have it done - I don't see any reason to wait.
If it's bothering her...get it done...the sooner the better.
