Want to start the New Year by doing something just for you? Why not say goodbye to that bony bump that’s been growing on your foot, and finally schedule your bunion removal surgery.
You see, the only way to get rid of your bunion and restore the smooth profile of your foot is with surgery. And, in the past, that meant traditional surgery, accompanied by an extended, often painful, recovery period. Today, however, our Medford, OR foot surgeons are happy to offer Lapiplasty®, an innovative procedure that removes bunions, addresses their root causes, and dramatically reduces your recovery period.
Does this sound like the solution you’ve been looking for? Well then, make it your New Year’s resolution to get your surgery on the schedule. Because, do to the effectiveness and popularity of this procedure, we’re now scheduling surgeries well into April. And, to understand exactly why Lapiplasty is so popular, let’s take a deep dive into the world of bunion development.
What Causes Bunion Development? ![A foot with a bunion]()
Bunions form because of pressure on your feet. Under pressure, your big toe shifts inward, and the bone’s rotation causes a bony bump to emerge on the side of your foot. Often, this is accompanied by redness, swelling, pain and limits on mobility. Then, once the bump begins to form, it will continue getting larger unless you intervene. And, while non-surgical interventions can slow bunion growth, only surgery will remove the bump and address the underlying pressure that caused its formation.
Scheduling Bunion Removal Surgery in the New Year
There are non-invasive ways to treat a smaller bunion. When the bump is not too prominent, simply padding the bunion so it doesn’t rub against your shoes can relieve some of the pain and pressure. Additionally, by getting fitted for custom orthotics, you can address weaknesses in your feet to keep pressure off your big toe joint, preventing further rotation and bump growth.
Unfortunately, these interventions can only stop further bunion development—they can’t reduce the size of an existing bunion. So, if your New Year’s goal is to get your feet comfortably back into your favorite spring and summer shoes, it’s time to come into the office for a Lapiplasty consultation. With current wait times, scheduling a consultation today means we should be able to remove your bunion in time to show off your favorite spring sandals! But why should you choose this procedure over a traditional bunionectomy? Here’s what you need to know!
Putting Bunionectomies in Your Rear View Mirror
Before the advancement of surgical techniques, all surgeons performed bunionectomies to remove bony bumps beneath your great toe joint. However, following surgery, patients still needed to consistently wear orthotics; otherwise, their bunions could return, since a bunionectomy did nothing to relieve the pressure that caused this deformity in the first place.
Even worse, bunionectomy recovery period were painful and extensive. Luckily, surgical tools and techniques have advanced dramatically in the last few years. And now, you can schedule a Lapiplasty, a procedure that treats bunions in a way that fills all the outcome gaps bunionectomies once left behind.
Meet Lapiplasty®: The Superior Bunion Removal Option
This surgical technique offers a layered approach to bunion correction. To begin with, it stops your metatarsal bone’s shifting inward; simultaneously, it stops the bone’s rotation and upward arching. And, thanks to this three-dimensional corrective approach, bunions treated with Lapiplasty rarely return after surgery.
Now, that’s how Lapiplasty addresses the surgical inadequacies of a bunionectomy. But how does this procedure reduce the length and pain of your surgical recovery period? Well, when Dr. Evan Merril or Dr. Devin Dimond perform Lapiplasty in Southern Oregon, they use a patented tool that increases surgical accuracy while allowing them to make fewer and smaller incisions in your foot. And, because of this approach, you recover faster—and with less pain—following surgery. Best of all, you’ll experience far less down time—many patients are back on their feet (in a walking boot) just days after surgery! Then, within two months of your procedure, you should be out of that boot and back in supportive athletic shoes. And, because we implant a supportive plate in your foot during the procedure, you won’t have to worry about that bone shifting again, causing your bunion to return.
How to Schedule Your New Year Lapiplasty in Medford, Or
Even understanding that Lapiplasty is a less painful procedure than a bunionectomy, some patients still avoid scheduling surgery because they fear an overnight hospital stay. But guess what? In our Southern Oregon podiatry practice, Lapiplasty is performed as an outpatient procedure. Lasting about an hour, followed by a period of observation following your procedure, when you schedule Lapiplasty, you should be able to go home on the same day as your procedure, avoiding the expense and disruption of an overnight hospital stay.
Now, despite being an outpatient procedure, we still provide Lapiplasty patients with anesthesia in order to ensure a pain-free surgery. And, despite the faster recovery period, you will still be expected to rest your foot for a few days after your procedure. So, when you come in for a Lapiplasty consultation, be sure to bring your calendar, and mark off a few weeks when you’ll be able to get off your feet for a few days.
Aside from resting, what will your post-operative care plan look like? During this time, you’ll have careful instructions on how to keep your toe moving to help prevent scar tissue formation. You’ll also want to regularly ice and elevate your foot, helping reduce any residual pain or swelling.
Schedule Your Surgery Today for Lasting Bunion Relief in 2024
Are you still on the fence about scheduling your surgical bunion removal? Well, consider this: if you schedule a Lapiplasty procedure today, you can spend your spring and summer showing off your feet and toes with open sandals and pretty pedicures. But remember, we are already booking surgeries three months in advance, so the time to schedule your procedure is now! And the process couldn’t be simpler: just click here to contact our podiatrists in Medford, OR and request a Lapiplasty consultation today!