The bunion comes back when you only fix the bump.

Lapiplasty corrects bunions in three dimensions — front-to-back, side-to-side, and rotationally — while traditional bunion surgery only corrects in two dimensions. The 3D approach addresses the actual root cause of the bunion deformity, leading to lower recurrence rates and earlier weight-bearing during recovery.

Traditional osteotomies cut the metatarsal bone and shift it into a more aligned position, then hold it with screws or pins. The procedure is well-established but doesn't correct the underlying rotation of the bone, which is why bunions sometimes return years later. Lapiplasty uses precision instruments and titanium plate fixation to lock in three-dimensional anatomical correction. Both procedures have their place — we recommend the technique that produces the best outcome for your specific bunion structure.

Most Lapiplasty patients walk in a surgical boot within days of surgery, transition to normal shoes around 6 to 8 weeks, return to light activity at 3 months, and resume full athletic activity at 4 to 6 months. Final correction with full swelling resolution typically takes 12 months.

This is significantly faster than traditional bunion surgery, which often requires 6 to 8 weeks of non-weight-bearing before patients can put weight on the foot. Compliance with post-operative instructions is one of the strongest predictors of outcome — patients who follow the protocol heal predictably, while those who push back to activity too quickly can compromise the correction. Our team sees you at every recovery milestone to confirm everything is on track.

Yes, most major insurance plans cover Lapiplasty when bunions are causing significant pain or functional limitations. Coverage typically includes the surgical procedure, anesthesia, hospital or surgical center fees, and post-operative visits. Cosmetic-only bunion correction is generally not covered.

Our front office team verifies your specific benefits before scheduling surgery so there are no surprises. We work with most major insurance plans, Medicare, and workers' compensation. For patients without coverage or with high deductibles, we discuss payment options during the consultation. The investment in proper bunion correction is meaningfully lower than the cost of revising a failed traditional procedure years later.

Lapiplasty has significantly lower recurrence rates than traditional bunion surgery because it corrects the underlying three-dimensional misalignment rather than just removing the bump. Published research shows recurrence rates under 5% at long-term follow-up — compared to recurrence rates as high as 70% with some traditional techniques.

The titanium plate fixation locks the correction in place during healing, allowing the bone to fuse in its anatomically correct position. Once fused, the alignment is essentially permanent. Patients can further protect their results by wearing properly fitting shoes, addressing biomechanical contributors with custom orthotics when warranted, and avoiding the narrow pointed footwear that contributed to the bunion in the first place.

Lapiplasty candidates typically have moderate to severe bunions causing pain, functional limitations, or progression despite conservative treatment. Good general health, adequate bone quality, and willingness to follow the recovery protocol are also factors. Not every bunion patient is a Lapiplasty candidate, and honest evaluation matters.

During your consultation, we evaluate the specific structure of your bunion using weight-bearing X-rays, assess your overall foot mechanics, and discuss your activity goals. If Lapiplasty is the best fit, we proceed. If a different surgical approach or continued conservative care would serve you better, we say so. The goal isn't to perform a specific procedure — it's to deliver the best outcome for your specific situation.