Pros and Cons of Flat Feet Reconstructive Surgery

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About Reconstruction Surgery for Flat Feet
Pros and Cons of Flat Feet Surgery
Who is a Good Candidate for Flat Feet Surgery?
What are the Potential Risks and Side Effects of Flat Foot Surgery?
Alternatives to Reconstructive Surgery
Shoes Suitable for Flat Feet

If you have any questions about finding the best shoes for your feet, please contact our Customer Care team who are highly knowledgeable and here to help!

Email Us:

customercare@solebliss.com

Call Us:

+44 (0) 1923 227400

Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm UK time.

get in TOUCH

Jump to contents

About Reconstruction Surgery for Flat Feet
Pros and Cons of Flat Feet Surgery
Who is a Good Candidate for Flat Feet Surgery?
What are the Potential Risks and Side Effects of Flat Foot Surgery?
Alternatives to Reconstructive Surgery
Shoes Suitable for Flat Feet

If you have any questions about finding the best shoes for your feet, please contact our Customer Care team who are highly knowledgeable and here to help!

Email Us:

customercare@solebliss.com

Call Us:

+44 (0) 1923 227400

Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm UK time.

get in TOUCH

Did you know that 3 in 10 people have flat feet? If you suffer with flat feet, you may have considered flat foot surgery or want to know - can you get rid of flat feet? Flat foot reconstructive surgery has many pros and cons which we will discuss in this blog.

We will also show you some of the best footwear options to protect your flat feet. At Sole Bliss, we understand this difficulty and we have designed the ideal shoes for flat feet. When looking for flat feet shoes, it is important to look for shoes with built-in arch support. This prevents the inward pronation of the ankle and supports the arch of the foot. All Sole Bliss closed back heels feature an anti-pronating arch support device to support the underfoot and prevent your ankle pronating inwards.

London: Black Leather - Best Shoes for Flat Feet

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About Reconstruction Surgery for Flat Feet

Flat feet is a common foot condition that often occurs during the early stages of childhood. When developing at an early age, the ligaments and tissue in your feet should tighten together which forms an arch underfoot thus creating support for the bones in your feet.

If you suffer with flat feet, your feet press flat against the ground. Flat feet can also be referred to as fallen arches, because you have a low or no arch. People who do not have flat feet are able to distribute the impact from walking across the whole area of the foot so that no part is forced to absorb too much strain or pressure. However, problems with flat feet and the pronation of the ankle can lead to plantar fasciitis over time as the arch flattens and breaks down. If you suffer with these foot conditions, you may be wondering - can you get rid of flat feet?

Pros and Cons of Flat Feet Surgery

Flat foot surgery and the reconstruction of flat feet offers several benefits. Crucially, it reshapes the foot to ensure your fallen arch has the correct support. Reconstruction surgery for flat feet works to repair the tendons, ligaments and bone structure in your feet so that you can distribute pressure and strain equally along the foot.

One of the biggest disadvantages of flat feet surgery is that the recovery period can take up to 8 weeks and it is often a painful process. When undergoing surgery for flat feet, it is worth knowing that you will be spending some time in a cast. This means your mobility will be limited and will make it more difficult to carry out daily tasks. There is also a risk of blood clots and nerve damage. Reconstructive surgery is considered low risk, however these flat feet surgery pros and cons will determine whether it is right for you.

Ingrid: Black Suede - Comfortable Heels for Flat Feet

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Who is a Good Candidate for Flat Feet Surgery?

To know if you are a good candidate for flat feet surgery, you should always speak to your doctor or GP. However, if you find that the following describes you or what you experience, then it is very likely that you are a good candidate for flat feet surgery:

Experience orthopaedic pain and discomfort daily
Non-surgical methods have not helped
Lost ability to perform certain activities from having flat feet
An x-ray diagnosis for flat feet

If you are diagnosed with flat feet, it does not mean you have to have flat foot reconstructive surgery. If your feet do not cause you pain or affect your daily life, then you are someone who probably is not the most suitable candidate for flat feet surgery.

Many people with this condition find that flat foot reconstructive surgery is not suitable or needed for them if they do not experience pain or discomfort. In this case, if you did not want to go through with an invasive surgical procedure, there are other options you can look into, for example, finding comfortable shoes for flat feet.

Best Shoes For Flat Feet

Orla: Taupe Patent Leather Shoes Sole Bliss

Orla: Taupe Patent Leather

£169

+ 3 More

Fame: Black Leather

£199

Ingrid: Blush Suede

£169

+ 6 More

Diva: White Leather & Taupe Raffia Shoes Sole Bliss

Diva: White Leather & Taupe Raffia

£189

+ 7 More

London: Blush Patent Leather Shoes Sole Bliss

London: Blush Patent Leather

£159

+ 1 More

What are the Potential Risks and Side Effects of Flat Foot Surgery?

It is rare for any complications to occur when going through with flat feet reconstructive surgery, however like all invasive surgeries, they do have their own risks. Reconstructive surgery for flat feet risk complications include infections, nerve and blood vessel damage and not being able to fully heal after recovery. Side effects will usually include some sharp aching pains in the foot, as well as lack of mobility due to the cast you will need to wear.

Orla: Mocha Patent - Comfy Flats for Flat Feet

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Alternatives to Reconstructive Surgery

Now we know about the pros and cons of flat feet surgery, we will now be looking at alternative options to reconstructive surgery. When surgery to correct flat feet isn’t a viable option for you, there are some non-intrusive options you can turn to relieve any pain and restore function if you do have flat feet. Alternative options can include:

Comfortable shoes for flat feet
Physical therapy
Custom made orthotic insoles
Steroid injections for pain
Frequent rest
Foot exercises and stretches

These alternative treatments can help with the pain you experience from flat feet.

Physical therapists can provide certain flat feet exercises to strengthen the muscles and tendons in the feet and guidance to improve gait.

Custom made orthotics are one of the most popular alternative options on the market as they are easily accessible and can provide a lot of support in any shoe you wear them with.

The last alternative option would be a steroid injection, also known as a cortisone shot. This type of injection uses a chemical which is similar to the natural hormones that your body produces to reduce inflammation. Therefore, a steroid injection is a good alternative to reduce swelling, stiffness and pain in flat feet.

Treasure: Black Leather - Loafers for Flat Feet

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Shoes Suitable for Flat Feet

When looking for the best shoes for flat feet, there are several factors which you need to consider. Flat feet shoes must have built in arch support. Sole Bliss have created on-trend and stylish shoes for flat feet which contain our anti-pronating device for arch support. They are designed to cushion and support your fallen arches.

Sole Bliss court shoes, smart flats and loafers all feature our award-winning Anti Pronating Arch Support device that alleviates any pressure your flat feet may cause. The device also prevents the inwards rolling of the ankle which can help support the arches of your foot.

All Sole Bliss shoes feature 3 Layers of Memory Foam cushioning built into the sole unit, which provides shock absorbency, soft memory foam cushioning and a custom contoured support system which alleviates pressure and pain.

To Summarise...

When choosing the best shoes for flat feet, Sole Bliss is here to help! We know that suitable shoes for flat feet will offer arch support, memory foam cushioning and shock absorbency. People with flat feet will also benefit from wide fitting shoes so it is important to find a shoe with a deep and wide toe box. So if you're looking for a suitable footwear alternative to flat foot surgery, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Posted

Nov 19, 2025

Author

Lisa Kay

When it comes to comfort, Lisa Kay knows it all! Lisa has been a Shoe Designer for over 20 years. She has used her own experience dealing with bunions to create Sole Bliss - the shoe brand dedicated to women with bunions, wide feet and sensitive soles. Lisa has worked with Italian and Spanish artisans and the world’s leading podiatrists to create the best shoes for women with bunions and wide feet. Every pair of Sole Bliss shoes contains an award-winning, podiatrist-approved Comfort Technology.

Contributor

Dr Brad Schaeffer

Dr Brad Schaeffer is a Certified Foot Surgeon with the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He trained at Hoboken University Medical Center with a 3 Year Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Reconstructive Surgical Residency.

After residency, Dr Schaeffer has continued training and crafting his skillset in cutting edge surgical techniques and regenerative medicine.

Dr Schaeffer was also discovered for the hit TV show, My Feet Are Killing Me. He is known for bringing his eye of aesthetic medicine and attention to detail to every patient that he treats.