A bunion is a deformity of the metatarsal bones of the foot that results in a painful bony bump around the big toe joint. Some individuals are born with bunions, though we most often encounter them in adulthood as the bumps become progressively painful.

Your doctor will not tell you when you need surgery--you tell your doctor when you need surgery. Basic nonsurgical treatments include padding, splinting, and shopping for comfortable shoes with a wide toe box, and this may be all you ever want to do. If you are dissatisfied with those options and if your bunion is limiting you from participating in activities you enjoy or wearing the shoes you want to wear, surgical correction is appropriate.

While we always strive for an eye-pleasing result, bunions are a skeletal deformity, and restoring function is our primary goal for you. Because of our focus on deformity correction, bunion surgery is covered by most, if not all, insurance plans.

Bunion surgery has undergone a tremendous evolution over the decades. The challenge has always been to achieve a lasting correction without subjecting someone to an overly complex operation. The minimally invasive approach has been revolutionary for our practice and our profession. Instead of large incisions, we work through ¼ inch portals on the skin. Through these portals, we cut the bone and hold it straight with buried headless screws. We take X-rays during the operation to visualize each step of the procedure. This philosophy affords you a rapid return to activity, with less pain, less swelling, and less stiffness. You are able to walk on your feet immediately, and most of our patients choose to have both feet corrected at the same time.

…No.

You will most likely be able to return to vigorous activity involving running or jumping after about 2 months. However, a return to gentle activity is permitted much sooner. You can bear weight in a surgical shoe immediately on the day of surgery. Depending on your tolerance, you can resume using athletic shoes as early as two weeks after surgery. Then, you can return to driving, walking within your community, and most normal activities of life. While aches and pains are part of any healing process, we keep your pain to a minimum, which speeds up the recovery process.