Manhattan’s TOP Bunion Surgery Specialists

Bunion surgery, also known as bunionectomy, is probably the most effective treatment for forefoot deformity. The main goal of the procedure is to relieve pain and reduce discomfort during your walking cycle or other daily activities.

Before deciding on the most appropriate type of surgery, Our Podiatrists meticulously assesses various factors, such as how far the position of the bones in the foot has changed. Often people have a bunion deformity on both feet, and correcting both deformities at the same time is referred to as a bilateral bunionectomy. We recommend correcting the deformity one foot at a time, but in some instances, bilateral bunion surgery may be indicated. Visit Our Podiatrists, the best-rated bunion removal doctors, to explore your surgical and non-surgical treatment options.

All symptoms, potential procedural bunion removal options should always be discussed with your local podiatrist or bunion surgeon after a thorough consultation and examination for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Purpose of Bunion Correction Surgery

Bunion surgery is only performed when conservative, non-surgical solutions don’t alleviate your pain. Some of these conventional solutions include:

• Switching to properly fitting and wider shoes
• Placing padding on your toe
• Taking anti-inflammatory medicine
• Wearing orthotics

Bunions can cause your big toe to move towards the second toe, which over time can create a painful deformity. This can make it very hard for you to find comfortably fitting shoes. Your bunion doctor can explain the cause of your bunion and recommend the best bunion treatment.

By the time you visit a bunion surgeon, you may have exhausted conservative measures and are already considering minimally invasive bunion removal surgery.

It is important to not rush into surgical correction without a thorough workup with our Podiatrists who will recommend a customized solution to your problem. A podiatrist can diagnose your condition and tell you if minimal incision bunion surgery is a good option.

Symptoms that may indicate the need for minimally invasive bunion surgery include:

• Intense pain
• A decrease in toe mobility
• Severe deformity of your foot
• An inability to fit your foot into your shoe
• A “crackling” sound in your toe as it moves

You need to provide your complete medical history to your bunion surgeon, as well as if the deformity runs in the family. X-rays are typically part of your bunion work up allowing the bunion removal podiatrist to measure the extent of deformity as well as the correction needed for optimal surgical success. Your bunion surgeon will choose a procedure that corrects your deformity with minimal scarring and recovery time.

Not every patient who has a bunion needs bunion removal surgery. Surgery is not the right option if you do not experience any pain. Even though the results of surgery can leave you with more attractive feet, it should not be performed solely for cosmetic purposes.

The following factors will be taken into consideration when deciding whether surgery is the right option:

• How bad the misalignment is
• The severity of your symptoms
• Whether your bunions are related to osteoarthritis
• Presence of underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, vascular disease, rheumatic disease, or nerve disorders

Because bunions range in size and shape, there are various types of surgical procedures (including minimally invasive) used to treat them. In most cases, surgery involves correcting the bone alignment and repairing the soft tissues around the big toe. Once our doctor evaluates your condition, they will determine the best type of bunion surgery for you.

Prior to committing to surgery, our bunion removal surgeons take enough time to meticulously examine the patients and measure the extent of the deformity and correction needed. Only then can they enact the successful outcomes they have always been known for.

Some of the most widely used types of bunion removal procedures are:

• Osteotomy. The surgeon makes small cuts in your big toe joint to realign it to a proper position. This will straighten the bone and improve the joint balance. This is often combined with soft tissue procedures to better maintain the big toe alignment.
• Exostectomy. The doctor removes the bunion bump from your toe joint without doing an alignment. Exostectomy by itself rarely corrects the cause of the problem and is usually just one part of the entire corrective surgery that includes osteotomy.
• Arthrodesis. In this procedure, the arthritic joint surfaces are removed and replaced with screws or metal plates until the bone heals to fix the deformity. This type of procedure is mainly used in severe cases or for patients with severe arthritis.

Most bunion surgeries include removing the bump from the big toe joint and shifting the bone over. Our leading bunion surgeon does a minimal incision over the deformity to get an optimal cosmetic result. To prevent the deformity from returning, the bunions specialist typically moves the metatarsal bone over to prevent the re-occurrence of the bump.

Your podiatrist is surgically trained to correct this deformity and will guide you to the newest procedure, such as laser bunion surgery (aka non-invasive bunion removal), that suits your lifestyle and expectations. You will follow up with your local foot doctor every 1-2 weeks during your recovery to check the bone healing via x-rays.

You will have to keep your foot stable during the first few weeks after the procedure. Bandages and, in some cases, a splint might assist you in that. Our Podiatrists will provide you with detailed information on how to care for your foot at home following the surgical intervention for the first few weeks. Depending on the degree of your treatment, you may be discharged with a special surgical shoe or cast to aid in bunion recovery. Most patients report the postoperative pain as fairly tolerable when combined with medication and a dedicated program to relieve the discomfort.

Even though you can put pressure on your foot after surgery, but you should not be walking long distances. The extent to which you can put pressure on your foot depends on how painful it is and on the type of procedure you had. In general, the recovery time varies between 4-6 weeks. This is enough for your bones to become stable again. You will have follow-up appointments with your local foot doctor every 1-2 weeks during your recovery to check the bone healing via x-rays.

Our Podiatrists clearly realize the importance of the recovery stage. Hence, they are always on hand to support and guide you throughout the recovery process. By strictly following her recommendations, a swift and healthy recovery can be achieved

The safety of our patients has always been a top priority for our physicians and staff. Our Podiatrists perform the procedure under the most stringent safety protocols. However, every surgical intervention carries a certain degree of risk, and bunion removal is not an exception. Hence, all the potential risks and complications are communicated to the patient prior to surgery.

Some of the most common complications of bunion removal surgery are:

• Infected wound
• Death of bone tissues
• Higher risk of thrombosis
• Part of the toe can become permanently numb
• Inflammation, infection, and damage to blood vessels or nerves
• Osteoarthritis of the metatarsal bone

Bunionectomy is not recommended for patients who suffer from blood circulation problems. If you suffer from either diabetic foot or peripheral artery disease, surgery for bunion correction can cause wound-healing difficulties or the development of a chronic wound.

Once you’ve decided to go ahead with the no scar, minimally invasive bunion removal surgery, our podiatry doctor will discuss all the benefits, risks, and alternatives to surgical correction and answer any questions you may have.

The anesthesiologist will be present on the day of surgery and will review your medical history and labs as well as discuss the type of anesthesia you will be having.

After the procedure, you can expect a return to a normal lifestyle and activities in about six to eight weeks. Full bunion surgery recovery time can sometimes take longer, as you may experience swelling for up to six months after surgery.

Other factors that influence your recovery after minimally invasive bunion surgery include:

• The degree of your foot deformity
• The type of correction you received
• Your age and general health
• Compliance with surgical shoe and rest

Temper your expectations around the severity of your surgery. If your procedure was mild and your podiatrist only removed a small amount of bone and tissue, you can return to normal activity more quickly than if you had a more complex surgical intervention.

Our best podiatrist may prescribe a particular boot, shoe, or cast to be worn for several weeks after your bunion removal to give your foot added stability.

Once your surgical incision is healed, Our Podiatrists may suggest physical therapy and exercises that help strengthen your foot and get you to your normal life faster. These exercises improve your range of motion too. Adhering to the prescribed recovery regimen and following your surgeon’s post-operative instructions enable you to shorten your bunion foot surgery recovery time.

All symptoms, potential procedural/surgical options should always be discussed with your podiatrist near you or the best rated bunion surgery specialist after a thorough consultation and examination for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Bunionectomy surgery performed in our foot clinic is painless since ankle block anesthesia is used during the procedure. The majority of bunion surgeries are performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation. This results in your foot being completely numb during the procedure, and you will also be given medications that help you relax. However, once the anesthesia wears off, you will feel some moderate pain for the next few days following the procedure.

Your pain may be slightly increased post-operatively for a few days. The amount of pain felt after bunionectomy will differ from one patient to the next. You can minimize the pain and swelling by closely following the after-care advice given to you by your bunion surgery doctor who may also prescribe medications to ease your discomfort.

The given instructions from the podiatrist nearby will provide detailed information about how to care for your foot at home following the surgery for the first few weeks. Depending on the degree of your bunion treatment, you may be discharged with a special surgical shoe or cast to aid in bunion recovery. Most patients report the postoperative pain as fairly tolerable when combined with medication and a dedicated program to relieve the discomfort.

There are more than 40 different types of foot bunion surgery. Therefore, the cost can vary greatly. According to recent studies, the average bunion surgery cost is approximately $5,600. However, it can range from $3,500 up to $12,000. Complex procedures require large corrections, thus, more surgical hardware is needed. As a result, the bunion surgery price will increase.

Other factors influencing the total fee are:

• Your geographic location
• Experience of the surgeon
• Surgical center

Before undergoing any kind of treatment, make sure to determine the final cost of the procedure. You can always contact our clinic and get detailed information about current prices.

Insurance companies consider foot bunion surgery as a medically necessary procedure; therefore, you can expect partial or even total costs to be covered. However, you should keep in mind that if a bunion is small and causes no pain, your insurance provider might not cover the procedure. The type of insurance plan highly impacts the cost of the procedure. You can always get in contact with your insurance company and ask whether this type of procedure is covered by your insurance plan.