Learn About Bunion Surgery from a Foot Surgeon

One of the most common surgeries we perform as a foot surgeon is the removal of bunions. We know that most patients are going to try any number of conservative treatments in order to tolerate their bunions and avoid foot surgery for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there comes a point where conservative care is unable to relieve the severity of the pain. At this point, the swelling of the bunion begins to interfere with your daily life.

As a patient in this situation, you need to consider having a consultation with a foot surgeon. In our office, we can discuss the best method to remove the bunion and relieve the discomfort you are feeling. If you are avoiding surgery due to the fear of misconceptions, a foot surgeon is the best way to get direct answers to treat your condition through a consultation. As a foot surgeon, we are obligated to ensure that we give you the best medical advice possible. As such, it is far better that you get your information from a professional who is trained in the medical and healing sciences, rather than depending on internet rumors or misconceptions.

The first issue that we like to address as a foot surgeon, is when foot surgery is necessary to treat a bunion. The answer depends entirely on your level of discomfort. When the pain of a bunion starts to interfere with your daily activities it is time to start the conversation about the surgical options with your podiatrist or orthopedic physician. Once your podiatrist or orthopedic physician makes the decision that it is in your best interest to get foot surgery, they will put you in touch with us to perform the procedure. At the end of the day, the overall goal for both your podiatrist and our staff is to relieve the pain, remove the bunion, and keep it from returning as much as possible.

In addition, we want to make sure to correct the alignment and mechanics of the foot so that you do not have any further complications. It is possible, but not at all likely, that after the foot surgery your bunion has a re-occurrence. However, if the corrective procedure has been tailored to resolve the severity of your bunions, and if the proper shoes are worn following the surgery, the chances of your bunion coming back are extremely slim.

Many of our patients will ask us what are the difference types of procedures that are performed in order to remove a bunion. It is important to understand that a bunion is slightly more complicated than a bump on the side of the big toe. As such, the type of procedure that your surgeon will be performing depends on the severity of the bunion, as well as a combination of other factors. These other factors include the patient's age, health, condition of the bones, activity level, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the foot. After performing a thorough examination, we will be able to give you a more detailed answer on the complexity of the procedure.