Get Rid of Your Painful Bunions with Minimal Incision Surgery

Jul 01, 2023
misc image
Sometimes surgery is a preferable alternative to living with bunions. But what about post-surgical discomfort, incision care, and scars? Read how minimal incision bunion surgery alleviates these issues and what you can expect as you heal.

If you’re one of the millions living with bunion pain and decreased mobility, you may be looking forward to surgery that gets rid of that painful lump at the base of your big toe.

But would you be interested in a procedure that corrects bunions, relieves pain, and restores mobility with much smaller incisions, reducing post-surgical discomfort, scarring, and healing time?

Our team of board-certified podiatrists at Kyrou Podiatry Associates, providing advanced podiatric services to people of all ages from five locations in New York, can make that dream a reality with minimal incision bunion surgery.

And if surgical expertise is a priority, Dr. Kyrou is one of only a few podiatrists in the United States who’s board-certified in minimal incision foot and ankle surgery. Keep reading to learn more about this advanced surgical procedure and its many benefits compared to traditional bunion surgery.

Understanding minimal incision bunion surgery

Bunions are a common foot deformity that causes the big toe to deviate inward, resulting in a bony prominence on the side of the foot.

Surgery is never the first option for bunions. However, when conservative treatments fail, the pain, discomfort, and limited mobility associated with bunions often lead individuals to seek surgical intervention.

In recent years, a groundbreaking technique called minimal incision surgery has gained popularity due to its numerous advantages over traditional procedures.

Minimal incision surgery, also known as minimally invasive bunion surgery or keyhole bunionectomy, is a revolutionary approach to correcting bunions with significantly smaller incisions than traditional open surgeries.

With this technique, your Kyrou Podiatry Associates surgeon utilizes advanced instruments, specialized cameras, and refined surgical skills to precisely correct the bunion deformity while minimizing trauma to the surrounding tissue structures.

Benefits of minimal incision bunion surgery

The many benefits of minimal incision bunion surgery include the following:

Reduced scarring

A significant advantage of minimal incision surgery is the reduced scarring it leaves behind. The smaller incisions used in this technique result in less visible scars, improving the aesthetic outcome for patients.

Quicker recovery

Compared to traditional open surgeries, minimal incision surgery generally requires a shorter recovery time. The reduced trauma to the tissues allows for faster healing and a quicker return to normal activities. 

Less pain and discomfort

Patients often require fewer pain medications and experience a quicker resolution of pain symptoms following minimal incision surgery.

The smaller incisions (usually less than ½ inch long) and limited tissue disruption associated with minimal incision surgery reduce postoperative pain and discomfort. In comparison, traditional bunion surgeries require incisions that are 6-8 inches long.

Lower infection risk

With smaller incisions, the reduced exposure of tissues to the external environment minimizes the chances of bacterial contamination and infection.

Improved cosmetic outcome

The advanced techniques used in minimal incision surgery help preserve the natural shape and contours of the foot, resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing outcome compared to traditional procedures.

What happens during minimal incision bunion surgery?

Your surgeon discusses the procedure in detail, including what to expect during and after, before scheduling your bunion surgery.

Generally, however, during minimal incision surgery for bunions, your Kyrou Podiatry Associates surgeon makes a few small incisions around the targeted area. Your provider then uses specialized instruments to access and correct the bunion deformity.

Rarely, a small screw or wire may be necessary to help stabilize the realigned bones. The incisions are closed, often with dissolvable sutures or surgical “glue,” and a bandage is applied.

Minimal incision surgery is a game-changer in bunion correction, offering reduced scarring, faster recovery, less pain and discomfort, lower infection risk, and improved cosmetic outcomes compared to traditional bunion surgery.

Schedule an evaluation with our experts at Kyrou Podiatry Associates today to explore nonsurgical and surgical treatment options for bunions. Call the office or request an appointment online. We’re here to help.