5 Benefits of LapiplastyⓇ 3D Bunion Correction

You’re probably not familiar with the term hallux vagus right off the bat, but we’re pretty sure you know what a bunion is — that bony protrusion from your big toe joint. And if you have one, you know how uncomfortable the symptoms can be.

Conservative treatments and complicated surgery with a long recovery time used to be your main options when it came to treatment. But now, LapiplastyⓇ 3D bunion correction surgery offers multiple benefits to patients struggling with bunions. Dr. Paul Ebanks at the Foot & Ankle Center of MidFlorida is highly skilled at performing this procedure, which has helped many. 

If you live with a bunion, take a look at the issues it can cause below, plus five benefits of Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction.

What problems do bunions cause?

If a bunion causes you considerable grief, you’re not alone. Approximately one-third of the population lives with a bunion. 

You might experience:

• Pain and sensitivity when you’re wearing shoes, especially if they’re tight or ill-fitting
• Big toe stiffness
• Increasing difficulty or a burning sensation when you try to bend your big toe
• Throbbing, even if you’re barefoot
• Redness at the site of your bunion
• Numbness
• Development of corns or calluses
• Mobility problems

You’re also more likely to develop a bunion if:

• Your parent had one
• You’ve had a foot injury before 
• You wear tight shoes
• Your job requires you to be on your feet for long periods 

Be sure to seek treatment for your bunion. Otherwise, it can lead to other problems, such as hammertoes, bursitis (when a sac filled with fluid emerges atop your bunion), and osteoarthritis. Your big toe can also begin to flop over your second toe, causing secondary issues like corns and calluses, and a higher risk of joint deformity.

Benefits of Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction

If your bunion isn’t severe or it developed recently, Dr. Ebanks may recommend conservative approaches like buying wider shoes or wearing orthotics (shoe inserts) and pads to ease the pressure on your bunion. Surgical solutions also exist, including a bunionectomy, where Dr. Ebanks cuts your big toe bone so your toe is better aligned. 

But recently, a new development has taken the world of bunion treatment by storm: Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction. Dr. Ebanks discusses this procedure with patients frequently, and he’s compiled this list of reasons you should consider it if you’re in bunion-related agony:

1. Root cause correction

Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction solves the root problem of bunions by realigning the bone that supports your big toe and reinforcing your foot’s foundation with titanium hardware.

It’s less cosmetic than a traditional bunionectomy, and more substantive.

2. Shorter recovery time

Rather than requiring a lengthy recovery like a traditional bunionectomy does, Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction only takes about an hour and you’re back in the comfort of your own home that very same day.

With a bunionectomy, it would take approximately six weeks to three months for your bones to heal as you wore a boot. Afterwards, you may undergo physical therapy to improve your foot’s range of motion and strength, and swelling might not subside for six to nine months. 

Conversely, with Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction, you can resume walking with the help of a boot several days to weeks following your surgery. After just six weeks, you can walk while wearing comfortable shoes and you can enjoy exercise and sports again at about four months post-surgery. 

Overall, Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction recovery beats a Lapidus procedure (a type of bunionectomy) by about 6-8 weeks.

3. Strong, patented technology 

Because Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction utilizes the sophisticated technology that the titanium components offer, the procedure is patented — an additional, reassuring seal of approval.

4. Long-term bunion relief

Many patients experience bunionectomy failure, meaning that bunion regrowth occurs and other issues arise after the procedure. 

Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction, by contrast, offers a permanent solution to your bunion, so it’s “one and done” and you never have to worry about recurrence.

5. A fit for many cases

If your bunion affects your movement and quality of life, Dr. Ebanks may decide you’re a good candidate for the Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction procedure. This surgery may also be a strong option if you’ve had a bunion recurrence after an unsuccessful prior surgery. 

Setting up a consultation with Dr. Ebanks allows you to ascertain whether Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction is right for you. To discover more about Lapiplasty 3D bunion correction, contact our Houston office at 863-471-1570 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ebanks, or reach out to us through our website.