Why Traditional Bunion Surgery Often Falls Short
A bunion is not simply a bump. It is the end result of an unstable joint in the midfoot that lets the first metatarsal bone drift out of position in three dimensions at once: it leans sideways, rotates, and elevates.
Traditional 2D surgery corrects only the sideways component, which is the main reason bunions historically had significant recurrence rates. The unstable joint, the actual cause, is left untreated.
What Lapiplasty Does Differently
Lapiplasty corrects all three dimensions of the deformity, returning the metatarsal to its proper alignment, and then secures the previously unstable joint with titanium plating.
Because the correction is fixed at the source, patients can typically bear weight in a protective boot within days of surgery rather than spending weeks off the foot.
Lapiplasty FAQ
Lapiplasty is a 3D bunion correction that realigns the entire metatarsal bone in all three dimensions and secures the unstable joint, the root cause of the bunion, with titanium plating.
Traditional surgery shaves the bump and corrects the deformity in only two dimensions, which is a major reason bunions returned. Lapiplasty corrects all three dimensions and stabilises the joint, and is associated with a substantially lower recurrence rate.
Most patients can bear weight in a protective boot within days of surgery rather than spending weeks off the foot. Your doctor will give you a personalised timeline at your consultation.
Most adults with a painful, progressing bunion are candidates, but an in-person evaluation with imaging is the only way to know for certain. If a different approach fits better, we will tell you.
A return to most normal activities typically takes several weeks, though recovery varies by patient. We provide realistic, personalised guidance rather than a generic estimate.
Take the Next Step Toward Lasting Bunion Correction
Schedule a Lapiplasty consultation to learn whether 3D bunion correction is right for you and what recovery may look like.