Minimally Invasive Bunions Surgery
Day case Bunion treatment keyhole (Minimally invasive) surgery with no metal fixtures, no screws Exclusive to The Private Clinic.
No crutches, no downtime, walk out of the clinic on the day
Minimally invasive, day case surgery
Fitzroy Hospital central London
15 years experience and 1,200 procedures performed each year
What’s on this page
- About this Treatment
- Before & Afters
- What to Expect
- FAQs
- Our Clinics
- Patient Stories
- Why the Private Clinic
- Meet the Surgeons
- Related Blogs & News
Medically reviewed by Lorcan Sheppard BSc MBBS FRCA, Chief Medical Officer and the Medical Advisory Committee for The Private Clinic.
Last Reviewed April 26th 2022
Related Treatments
For the majority of people who suffer from bunions, the downtime, metal fixtures and scars associated with bunions removal surgery is often not an option. At The Private Clinic, minimally invasive bunion surgery with no scar, no metal fixtures & no downtime is performed at our state of the art London Fitzroy bunion hospital by Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Mr Bianchi, who pioneered this revolutionary procedure.
5 Advantages of our unique bunion procedure over standard surgery
- No screws or fixtures. Avoid the potential complications that can arise from standard surgery. Without the use of any screws & fixtures, risks are significantly reduced.
- Be proud of your feet again. Our Keyhole method means you won’t suffer the significant scars seen with other methods so you can confidently wear the shoes you want.
- Return to daily activities sooner. Most patients can walk immediately following treatment without crutches & get back to their lives without the months of recovery required elsewhere.
- 98% success rate. Using his pioneering technique, our Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Mr Bianchi arranges the toes with unrivalled precision for lasting results.
- No hidden costs. Aftercare and follow up appointments are integral to the success of your treatment so the price we quote includes these.
What are the advantages of the bunion surgery technique?
- Procedure is exclusive to The Private Clinic in the UK
- Over 1,200 procedures performed each year in Italy and London
- 98% success rate
- No screws, plates, wires or metal fixtures required
- 5 star TrustPilot rating based on over 1000 reviews
- Keyhole surgery and no big scars
- No crutches, no downtime. So you can return to everyday activities
- Advanced bunion hospital and aftercare support
- Walk in walk out, minimally invasive day case procedure
Book a consultation at our London Harley Street Bunion Clinic, Manchester Bunion clinic, Birmingham Bunion clinic or Bournemouth bunion clinic to learn if you are suitable for bunion removal.
The Private Clinic are Covid secure. We continue to provide expert services for medical conditions due to bunion (bunionectomy) . For Covid information about the extensive measures we are taking to ensure your care and safety click here.
Is Hammertoe or Tailors bunion Surgery available?
Bunion surgery or 3D laparoscopic bunion surgery may also be necessary if the big toe pushes into the second toe, causing a painful hammer toe. If you suffer from a bunion shape on the small toe (often called bunionette) we can help. Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Mr Bianchi treats hammertoe and tailors bunion with a similar method and includes all of the advantages that are listed. Please mention this when you book your consultation at our London Harley Street, Manchester, Birmingham or Bournemouth Bunion Clinics.
Patient coordinator consultations for Bunion Correction surgery and hammer toe surgery are also available in Leeds and Northampton.
“I am still amazed 4 weeks after op, how pain free and easy for me this procedure was. Mr Bianchi and his colleagues make you feel very comfortable and relaxed. I walked out after a couple of hours and carried doing what I do daily . Highly recommend Mr Bianchi and The Private Clinic.” – Lisa
Featured in:
- Tatler’s ‘Treatments on Trial’
- Harper’s Bazaar’s Cosmetic Tweakment Trends for 2019
- Marie Claire’s Cosmetic Surgery Trends for 2019
- NetDoctor; The Best Bunion Treatment Options
- The Daily Telegraph; Amazing Feet
See our Bunion Removal operation video
See our Bunion Aftercare video
as seen in
Before & After Bunion Surgery Results
Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery with no screws before and after results by Mr Andrea Bianchi
What to Expect
The Consultation
Your bunion treatment journey will begin with a consultation with our Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Mr Bianchi.
During your consultation time, you will have an X-Ray taken of your foot or feet* which will help Mr Bianchi to assess your suitability for surgery.
At your consultation, your surgeon will discuss
- Your medical history
- Information about your bunion
- Details of the procedure
- Your expectations from surgery
- Risks and Complications
- Aftercare
Your consultation is also the best time to ask any questions you may have about the procedure and take a look at before and after photos to see what results can be expected from minimally invasive bunion surgery. You will be allocated a dedicated patient advisor following your consultation and they will be your point of contact should you wish to go ahead with the procedure.
*Consultations in our Manchester, Birmingham or Bournemouth clinics will require patients to source an X-Ray prior to their consultation.
Your pre-operative appointment
All of our cosmetic surgery procedures require a pre-op appointment with one of our experienced nurses. They will advise you of any precautions you need to take in the days or weeks leading to your bunion removal procedure. They will also perform any required tests and advise on any medication that you should stop taking ahead of your procedure.
The Procedure
Your bunion removal surgery will take place in hospital under local anaesthetic. You will be given an admission time which is usually an hour before the agreed start time of surgery.
Once admitted:
- Our nursing team will record your blood pressure and prep you ready for surgery.
- You will meet with your surgeon who will go through the procedure again and answer any questions or concerns you may have.
- They will mark up your foot ready for surgery.
The procedure
Our bunion removal surgery procedure uses a revolutionary technique that does not require the fracture of the foot to be immobilised/rested in order to heal. The surgeon will use surgical dental burrs to correct the deformity and modify the bones of the foot.
- Small 2-3-millimetre incisions are made which the surgical burrs are inserted through.
- A special radiological device is used to allow the surgeon to see the bones and burrs without the need for larger incisions.
- A series of small and precise fractures will be made that are referred to as geometric fractures. These fractures do not require fixative devices such as screws or pins which force the bone into place. They are instead left to heal naturally.
- Once the bones are realigned, the fractures are left free to allow the foot to heal according to the patient’s load-bearing needs and not to a pre-set standard that may not be right for the patient.
- The incisions are closed, and you will return to a recovery room to recover from the anaesthetic.
- Your foot will be bandaged and taped using a personalised bandaging technique which allows the physiological healing process to spontaneously restructure the foot and avoid any additional stress caused by arbitrary immobilisation. You will be required to wear this for up to 20 days before returning to the clinic.
- Once our specialist nursing team are happy with your recovery post-surgery and feel you are safe to return home, you will be discharged and allowed to leave the hospital accompanied by a family member or friend.
You will then be encouraged to bear weight on your foot shortly after your procedure to encourage the correct physiological readjustments and you will be able to walk out of the hospital without the need for crutches after your procedure. The bones are left to heal in a more natural position which results in better comfort and functionality post procedure.
Bunion Surgery Recovery
A member of our nursing team will call you usually the day following your procedure to ensure you are feeling comfortable and recovering well following your procedure and the anaesthetic. You will also have been given details of our dedicated on-call nursing team who can be contacted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you have any worries or concerns during your recovery time.
The effects of the local anaesthetic may last for some time, causing your foot to feel numb for 24-48 hours. You may also experience pain or swelling post-procedure and we advise resting with your leg raised and using pain relief such as paracetamol as required.
We encourage patients to walk on the treated foot to help it to heal in the correct position.
The change to the shape of your foot following Cosmetic Bunion surgery will be instant however you may not be able to see this due to the bandages that are applied to your foot post-procedure. You will be able to see your results when you return for your post-op check 2 weeks after your Cosmetic foot surgery.
Your first check-up will take place between 15-20 days post procedure. At this time, your medication will be changed, and your bandaging will be reduced. In most cases, you will also be able to remove your post-surgical shoe and wear comfortable shoes such as trainers. Your surgeon will then make any further check-ups that you need, and a follow-up x-ray will be arranged after 45 days to see the results which will take place at our London Harley Street clinic.
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FAQs
A bunion, medically known as a Hallux Valgus is a deformity of the foot often around the big toe. A bunion is often first noticed when a bony lump appears on the outside edge of the foot which forms over time when your big toe pushes against your next toe, forcing the joint of your big toe to grow and stick out the side of your foot.
In more severe cases the big toe can point towards the other toes on your foot instead of sitting upright. Some people experience pain, redness and swelling but this will vary between individuals.
Bunion symptoms and bunionectomy treatments can be discussed at a consultation at our London Harley Street Bunion clinic, click here to book.
As bunions are often genetic it can be hard to prevent bunions if you are predisposed to developing them. You can take care to ensure that your shoes fit your feet correctly and have a broad toe area. It is also recommended that you avoid wearing heels over 4 cm high. At The Private Clinic we recommend that you check your feet regularly to spot deformities before any pain arises.
The exact cause of a bunion is often unknown but usually it is either a congenital bunion or an acquired bunion.
A congenital bunion is often a result of:
- Deformities from birth
- Inherited foot type
Many say that congenital factors can make you genetically prone to bunions which means they may run in the family or the shape and anatomy of your foot may just make you more likely to develop one.
An acquired bunion is often a result of
- Foot stress or injury
- Uncomfortable footwear (narrow sole / high heels / ill-fitting shoes)
Bunions can develop and get worse from wearing ill-fitting and uncomfortable footwear as they can induce excessive pressure on the toes by forcing the first and fifth toes towards the centre, thus compressing the other toes. This compression increases when wearing high heels as your weight will shift towards the front of your foot. Wearing uncomfortable rigid shoes can also hinder the natural movement of the toes as you walk, thereby weakening your foot muscles and facilitating the appearance of bunions.
Medical conditions such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis can also make you more prone to developing a bunion.
Genetics play a major part in the formation of bunions; this means that if your mother or grandmother suffer from them then it is likely that you will also develop them. During pregnancy the weight of the unborn child means that women tend to put more weight on the front of the foot to give them greater stability. This can cause the front of the foot to collapse, increasing the risk of painful bunions forming.
Unfortunately, once bunions form, they will not go away without undergoing surgery. They can cause chronic pain, swelling and redness over the big toe joint, particularly after wearing tight-fitting shoes or shoes that don’t fit you properly. The symptoms of bunions can be eased by wearing wide shoes with a low heel and soft sole, bunion pads to reduce rubbing and taking regular painkillers to ease the discomfort.
At The Private Clinic we can help to treat the bunion rather than just ease the discomfort. Our minimally invasive bunion procedure uses keyhole surgery with no pins or screws meaning you will be able to walk straight after the procedure and get back to your usual activities much sooner than traditional bunionectomy surgery. Book a consultation today to find out more.
Ill-fitting shoes can cause bunions to develop at a more rapid rate as they are likely to be causing excessive pressure and compression on the toes causing the deformity. The compression increases when wearing shoes with high heels as your body weight will sit at the front of the foot. Rigid shoes can also increase the risk of bunions as they will affect the natural flexion of the toes as you walk which weakens your foot muscles and encourages the development of bunions.
Your shoes should conform to the shape of your feet without squeezing or pressing any part of your foot.
bunion removal is Available in these Clinics
Patient Stories & Videos
Outstanding care, patient satisfaction and results mean everything to The Private Clinic Team
Why Choose The Private Clinic
- Exclusive to The Private Clinic in the UK, there is no other operation like this one.
- Minimally invasive procedure, bunion removal surgery is performed under local anaesthesia using keyhole techniques.
- This is the only natural operation with no metal fixtures such as wires or screws being used.
- There is a 98% success rate following the bunion operation.
- Orthopaedic Consultant Surgeon, Mr Bianchi is an expert in his field and has been carrying out bunion operations for 15 years.
- Dr Bianchi carries out over 1,200 bunion operations a year in Italy and London.
- Walk immediately after surgery, with no crutches or extensive downtime required.
- Minimal post-operative pain and aftercare.
- 2-3mm skin incisions which leaves no scar.
- Consultations available in London, Birmingham, Manchester and Bournemouth.
- Treatment carried out in our state of the art London Fitzroy hospital.
- 24 hour patient helpline direct to your nursing team and surgeon, which means should you have any concern we are here to help.
- Our excellent reputation for patient safety and satisfaction, honest advice and outstanding care means your journey with The Private Clinic will be an exciting experience to a newfound confidence.
Meet our Surgeons
We are the UK’s leading cosmetic group and have some of the most experienced surgeons in the country working with us. Consultant general and Orthopaedic surgeon, Mr Bianchi joins us at our London Harley Street Bunion clinic, Manchester Bunion Clinic, Birmingham Bunion Clinic & Bournemouth Bunion Clinic to offer consultations for the bunion correction and removal procedure.
Mr Bianchi carries out 1,200 minimally invasive bunionectomy and forefoot surgery cases a year in Italy and London.
GMC Number: 7093105
