If your bunion pain is limiting your activity, getting worse, or making shoes difficult, you’re not alone — and more importantly, it can be corrected properly.
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At Foot of the Mountains Foot & Ankle Surgery, we specialize in serving Northern Colorado patients with advanced bunion correction, offering both minimally invasive and reconstructive surgical options based on your specific condition.
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Most bunion surgeries focus only on the bump — we focus on correcting the underlying structural problem to help reduce the risk of recurrence.
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Patients often come to us after being told to “wait” — but bunions are progressive and typically worsen over time.
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Our goal is simple: Correct the bunion properly the first time with a focus on long-term alignment and function.
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MANY PATIENTS MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR WEIGHT OR WALK WITH A BOOT THE SAME DAY OF SURGERY; HOWEVER, RECOVERY PROTOCOLS VARY DEPENDING ON THE PROCEDURE AND YOUR SPECIFIC CONDITION
BUNIONS
WHAT IS A BUNION
​A bunion (hallux valgus) is a deformity where the big toe shifts out of alignment and the first metatarsal drifts inward, creating a prominent bump at the base of the toe.
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This is not simply a “bump” — it is a structural deformity of the foot.
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Common symptoms include:​
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Pain over the bunion
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Swelling and redness
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Difficulty fitting into shoes
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Progressive deformity of the toe
TREATMENT APPROACH
Not all bunions are the same — and not all surgeries are either.​
At our practice, treatment is based on:
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Severity of deformity
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First ray stability
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Joint alignment
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Presence of arthritis​
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We offer a full spectrum of surgical options, including:
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Minimally invasive bunion surgery
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Traditional bunion correction techniques
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Lapiplasty bunion correction for unstable or severe deformities​
The procedure is selected based on your anatomy — not a one-size-fits-all approach
ADVANCED BUNION CORRECTION
For patients with first ray instability or more significant deformity, a Lapiplasty (Lapidus) bunion procedure may be recommended.
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This technique corrects the bunion at its source by stabilizing the first metatarsal at the midfoot, helping to reduce the risk of recurrence.
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This is often a reliable option for achieving stable, long-term correction
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Moderate to severe bunions
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Hypermobility or instability
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Recurrent deformity
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For select patients, IntelliGuide is an advanced technology that utilizes imaging to create patient-specific 3D bunion correction.
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Images courtesy of Treace Medical Concepts, Inc. Content and opinions are those of Foot of the Mountains Foot & Ankle Surgery and not affiliated with or endorsed by Treace Medical Concepts, Inc.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE BUNION SURGERY
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Smaller incisions
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Less soft tissue trauma
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Faster early recovery​
Minimally invasive bunion surgery uses specialized instruments and small incisions to correct alignment while minimizing soft tissue disruption.
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Potential benefits in some cases include:
However, minimally invasive surgery is not appropriate for every patient.
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Cases involving instability, more severe deformity, or joint changes may require a more advanced reconstructive procedure to achieve a stable, long-term correction.
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WHY CHOOSE OUR PRACTICE
At Foot of the Mountains Foot & Ankle Surgery, bunion surgery is not approached with a single technique.
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We focus on:
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Accurate diagnosis
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Procedure selection based on anatomy
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Stable correction and alignment
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Long-term outcomes​
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As a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon, Dr. Joshua Rawa performs both minimally invasive and advanced reconstructive procedures, allowing for a tailored approach to each patient with a focus on long-term correction and function.
REVISION BUNION SURGERY
At Foot of the Mountains Foot & Ankle Surgery, we evaluate and treat patients who have had previous bunion procedures but continue to have symptoms or deformity.
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Revision bunion surgery is more complex and requires a detailed understanding of the underlying cause of failure.
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Common reasons for recurrence or persistent symptoms include:
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Incomplete correction of the deformity
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First ray instability that was not addressed
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Joint degeneration or arthritis
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Malalignment or improper healing​
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Each case is carefully evaluated with clinical exam and imaging to determine an appropriate revision strategy. In many cases, revision surgery may involve a more advanced reconstructive procedure, such as a Lapiplasty (Lapidus) bunion correction, to provide improved stability and reduce the risk of recurrence.
The goal of revision surgery is to restore alignment, improve function, and achieve a more reliable long-term outcome.
WHEN TO CONSIDER SURGERY
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Pain is limiting daily activity
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Conservative treatments have failed
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The deformity is worsening
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Shoe wear is increasingly difficult​​​
You may benefit from surgical correction if:
Early evaluation can help determine the appropriate timing and procedure. Delaying treatment can allow the deformity to progress, sometimes requiring a more extensive procedure later.
Schedule a consultation to determine an effective correction for your specific bunion and avoid progression of deformity.
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Individual treatment recommendations and outcomes may vary based on your specific condition and clinical evaluation. No guarantees of specific results are made or implied.