Locations
What is a Bunion?
A bunion typically appears as a bony bump on the inside edge of the foot, where the innermost long bone of the foot (called the first metatarsal) meets the base of the big toe.
The visible bump appears when the first metatarsal tilts outward, causing the head of the bone to protrude. A bunion can also form at the base of the little toe, which is known as a tailor’s bunion.
What causes bunions?
Causes of a bunion can include genetics, structural abnormalities of the foot, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, and long-term wearing of high heels or pointy shoes.
What sets Dr. Bob Baravarian apart from other bunion surgeons?
Patients travel from all over the United States to seek his advanced surgical techniques and attention to post-operative care, which result in permanent correction, faster recovery, and minimal pain and scarring.
His decades of surgical advances include:
- Development of the most advanced bunion surgery protocols, including minimally invasive Bunionplasty, Lapiplasty, and all-natural bunion correction.
- Pioneer of virtually scar-free surgical techniques.
- Over a decade of work developing regenerative medicine protocols for foot and ankle surgery, including Amniotic stem cells, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), Amniotic fluid allograft, and the new SoftWave Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy.
- Years of experience running and participating in research, development, and clinical trials of the latest bunion surgery hardware and technologies, including the Ossiofiber non-metal fixation material technology.
- Individualizing every bunion procedure to suit each patient’s anatomy and lifestyle (a critically important component in recovery). He utilizes special techniques for handling soft tissue and closing incisions to achieve a cosmetically pleasing outcome. We never take a “one-size-fits-all” approach to treating his patients.
- He’s taught other physicians in the United States and Europe how to perform the refined surgical techniques he’s used in many thousands of successful surgeries to date.
- Offering the most advanced technology to give his patients the best possible results.
Dr. Bob's patient Nina discusses her minimally invasive bunion surgery and painless recovery.
Dr. Bob’s Bunion Surgeries are essentially painless and virtually scarless
Many bunion sufferers avoid surgery because they fear a long and painful recovery and unsightly scarring. The state-of-the-art bunion correction protocols we helped develop result in painless recovery and invisible incisions. Most patients tell us they wish they hadn’t waited so long to have their surgery.
Dr. Bob is able to remove the pain and scarring from most surgeries by:
- Taking extraordinary care in the handling of the soft tissue. It takes years of training and expertise to perform these types of dissections.
- Advanced fixation systems prevent micro-movement in the Bones, resulting in much less swelling and pain than conventional fixation methods.
- Utilizing long-acting local anesthesia with a proprietary “cocktail” of medications to control post-operative swelling and pain.
- Incorporating regenerative medicine therapies into his treatment plans greatly stimulates healing and reduces recovery time.
- Prescribing a special post-op boot that provides more stability and lessens joint movement, resulting in less pain.
- Using post-op protocols to mitigate inflammation and pain without the need for excessive narcotic use.
The overwhelming majority of his patients rarely take more than one or two prescribed pain pills following surgery and can manage their post-op pain with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and Tylenol.
What happens if I do nothing about my bunion?
Early-stage bunion deformities will almost always get worse over time. Complications from an untreated bunion include:
- Increased discomfort and pain. Bunion progression cannot be stopped. Your bunion will cause increased swelling and pain, and the bump will appear more pronounced.
- Osteoarthritis or bursitis. As the joint shifts more and more, your joints are impacted and will eventually become very damaged. The cartilage will continue to deteriorate, and a minimally invasive surgical procedure may no longer be an option for you.
- Crossover Toe. As more time passes, many patients see that their second toe begins to cross over the first toe literally. This causes pain, calluses, and even ulcers in your second toe. More invasive surgical procedures are now your only option.
Dr. Bob’s state-of-the-art bunion correction procedures include:
Bunionplasty: Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery
Our Bunionplasty technique combines the best parts of open bunionectomy (stabilizing the bone with hardware) with the best aspects of traditional minimally invasive bunionectomy (small incision surgery) and new technologies. By marrying the best of both approaches with the latest technologies, his Bunionplasty is the ideal procedure for achieving optimal outcomes.
Whereas traditional minimally invasive procedures utilize a thin, fragile pin to fixate cut bone, his bunionplasty approach uses custom-designed fixation systems to provide a stronger, more stable fixation that can be placed through a very small incision. Another unique feature of the Bunionplasty minimally invasive technique is that the bone can be shifted as far as necessary, allowing us to correct any size.
Our type of fixation controls abnormal stress through the bone and holds both ends in the correct position until the bone fully heals. This results in excellent healing and limits non-union risks associated with traditional minimally invasive bunion surgeries.
Advantages of Dr. Bob’s Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) for bunions:
- Uses a tiny 1 cm incision.
- Allows immediate weight-bearing after surgery.
- Leaves a virtually undetectable scar.
- Minimal swelling
- Minimal pain
- Often, there is no need for physical therapy
- It is paired with an Amniotic fluid allograft to speed up recovery and prevent internal scar tissue formation.
- This surgery avoids future joint problems because it does not involve opening the joint.
Osteotomy Bunionectomy
For moderate to severe bunions without joint instability.
Dr. Bob Baravarian revolutionized the traditional osteotomy procedure. The advantages of his Osteotomy Bunion Surgery include:
- Very small 3 cm incision
- Immediate weight-bearing
- A hidden incision along the side of the foot
- Plastic surgery closure techniques result in minimal scarring
- Early range of motion in recovery
- Cleans up spurs, if present
- Non-metal fixation option is available
- Amniotic Fluid Allograft and PRP can be used to speed up recovery and reduce internal scar tissue formation and stiffness.
Osteotomy procedures are one of the most performed bunion surgeries. An osteotomy, or bone cut, is made at the tip of the first metatarsal. This “V” shaped bone cut allows the first metatarsal to shift so that it ends up parallel to the second metatarsal.
The metatarsal bones are held together in their newly corrected position with two screws. Although the screws may be redundant after the bone is healed, they are often left in place to avoid a recurrence of the bunion.
Dr. Bob is proud to offer a revolutionary non-metal fixation option for bunion surgery. This biodegradable polymer mixed with a mineral fiber slowly grows into the human bone, reinforcing the healing site of the bone.
Through natural cellular turnover, it is eventually eliminated completely and replaced by the body’s own bone. Thus, the material not only integrates but also strengthens the surgical site.
The osteotomy bunionectomy is a strong and predictable procedure and is commonly used on active patients younger than age 50.
Lapiplasty Bunion Correction
For moderate to severe bunions, it is the best option for those with joint laxity
Lapiplasty bunion correction is considered the Gold Standard for bunion surgery. For the right patient, this procedure has the highest success rates with essentially a 0% chance of the bunion returning.
This procedure has the lowest risk of recurrence of the bunion because the Lapiplasty addresses the source of the bunion deformity: a lax/hypermobile joint between the first metatarsal and the cuneiform bone located at the base of the big toe joint.
Lapiplasty surgery, considered to be the next-generation Lapidus Bunionectomy, uses patented instrumentation to manipulate the deviated bone back to its original position without cutting the bone, naturally realigning the foot and straightening the big toe, and alleviating the bump and accompanying pain.
Once proper alignment is achieved, Lapiplasty uses innovative bone fixation technology to secure the bones.
Advantages of Dr. Bob’s Lapiplasty Bunion Correction include:
- Permanent deformity correction with virtually no chance of recurrence
- Weight-bearing in just two weeks (versus 6-8 weeks with the traditional approach)
- Plastic surgery closure techniques result in reduced scarring
- DynaForce Active Stabilization System foregoes the need for screws
- An on-site CT scanner allows him to detect the completion of bone fusion earlier, which gets his patients moving faster
- Dr. Bob works directly with his physical therapists to offer his advanced PT protocol.
Read more about Lapiplasty bunion correction here.
Bunion Revision Surgery
Many of his patients come after previous bunion surgeries at other facilities have proved unsuccessful. Revisions account for almost one-third of his bunion surgeries. It pains us that so many people need to go through surgery a second time.
Failed bunion surgeries are discovered when new complications appear, including recurrence of the bunion, an excessively short big toe, stiffness in the toe joint, and arthritis.
It is essential to choose your revision surgeon wisely. Bunion revision surgery requires the necessary experience and skills to understand and address the shortcomings of the original surgery.
Are there Non-Surgical Bunion Treatments?
While you technically can’t fix a bunion without surgery, there are ways to slow or even stop the progression of the deformity. Custom orthotics, shoe modifications, exercise, stretching, bunion pads, and splints are commonly prescribed conservative treatments.
Dr. Bob Baravarian is the best bunion surgeon in Los Angeles
Known for his national leadership in bunion surgery techniques and research, Dr. Bob Baravarian’s surgical team can offer a treatment plan that will address the deformity, correct the underlying cause of the bunion, and prevent a recurrence.
His bunion surgeries are often further advanced by adding stem cells, amniotic fluid allograft, and PRP. These regenerative medicines may be added during surgery to promote bone healing, speed up recovery, and reduce internal scar tissue and stiffness.
With thousands of successful procedures, Dr. Bob’s success speaks for itself.
Dr. Bob Baravarian is conveniently located in Los Angeles, blocks from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Beverly Hills, providing expert foot and ankle care for patients throughout Southern California.
Bunion FAQs
Do bunion correctors work?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Are bunions hereditary?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
How can bunions be prevented?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Can bunions be corrected without surgery?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Is bunion surgery covered by insurance?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
How long is recovery from bunion surgery?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Is bunion surgery painful?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Can you get a bunion on your pinky toe?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
Can bunions cause leg pain?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
What are the best shoes for bunions?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
What are the benefits of bunion surgery for seniors?
While widely available and marketed as a solution for bunions, bunion correctors often have limited effectiveness. It’s essential to understand that bunions are a structural issue, and while these devices may provide some temporary relief, they are unlikely to correct the root cause of the deformity.
