Fat Pad Injections

The plantar fat pad is the body's natural shock absorber - a specialized cushion of fibrous fatty tissue that protects the heel bone, metatarsal heads, and other bony prominences from the repeated impact of walking and standing. With age, prolonged steroid use, significant weight loss, or prior steroid injections, this fat pad can atrophy (thin) significantly. The result is chronic pain directly beneath the heel or ball of the foot - a condition known as fat pad atrophy. Traditional treatments offer limited relief because they address symptoms rather than the underlying volume loss. Fat pad restoration injections use carefully selected biocompatible filler material (such as autologous fat from another body site or approved medical-grade fillers) to restore lost cushioning volume, reduce pressure on exposed bone, and eliminate the pain of fat pad atrophy. The results can be dramatic for appropriately selected patients.

At your consultation, Dr. Golan will assess the degree of fat pad atrophy through physical examination and imaging. The injection site is numbed with a local anesthetic. The filler material is then carefully injected in a precise layered technique to recreate natural cushioning volume in the affected area. The procedure takes 15-30 minutes. Some mild swelling and bruising is expected for several days. You can walk immediately but should avoid high-impact activity for 1-2 weeks. Results are typically felt within days and improve over the following weeks as the material integrates. Depending on the filler used, results last 1-3 years, after which repeat treatment may be considered.