Ossiofiber Metal-Free Surgical Hardware

Metal-free holistic foot and ankle surgery is now a reality

Dr. Baravarian is at the forefront of foot and ankle surgery, utilizing the revolutionary non-metal fixation option for these procedures. As a pioneering, world-recognized leader in minimally invasive foot and ankle care, Dr. Bob is one of the earliest and most experienced adopters of OSSIOfiber bio-integrated hardware in the country – the surgeon other doctors trust when their toughest cases demand something better than traditional metal.

Metal surgical hardware is used in virtually every orthopedic correction surgery. A major patient concern about metal being left in the body is pain from the hardware itself or from metal protruding above or through the bone. Additionally, patients sometimes report discomfort from the metal in cold weather, making winter activities like walking the dog in the snow much less enjoyable. Beyond discomfort, many patients carry a quiet anxiety about having a foreign material permanently inside their body – a concern that is completely understandable and one Dr. Bob takes seriously when building every tailored treatment plan.

For some patients, the metal hardware is not tolerated and may need to be removed. Research shows that up to 15% of people need the hardware removed within the first year after surgery.1 Unfortunately, this means more surgery, more downtime, more lost wages, and additional costs.

“I was so relieved to hear there would be no metal left in my foot,” one patient shared. “Knowing the implant would simply become part of my bone made the whole idea of surgery so much less frightening.” That sense of reassurance is exactly what Dr. Bob aims to deliver – compassionate care backed by state-of-the-art science.

With the use of OSSIOfiber in Dr. Bob’s bunion surgeries – and across a full range of foot and ankle procedures – all of these concerns are a thing of the past. OSSIOfiber is non-metal hardware that becomes bone over time, meaning there is simply no metal to ever remove. The result is faster healing, less pain, and the peace of mind that comes from a truly bio-integrated solution designed to work with your body, not against it.

How does Ossiofiber work?

Ossiofiber is a material the human body does not “see” as foreign. Ossiofiber’s materials are naturally found in the body, so they don’t cause an adverse reaction. The Ossiofiber fixation “screw” is placed into the bone and does not protrude, unlike most metal screws. Patients no longer need to worry about screws sticking out from the bone and the discomfort it can cause.

Clinically, Ossiofiber is a bio-integrative, PEEK-free implant system that has received FDA clearance for use in foot and ankle fixation. It is composed of naturally occurring materials – primarily polylactic acid (PLA) and beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) – both of which are already present or readily accepted by the human body. This makes it fundamentally different from traditional metal hardware and older generations of resorbable implants, which could degrade unpredictably and sometimes trigger inflammation.

Ossiofiber material begins with a strength approximately three times that of human bone. Then, over the next two years, something amazing happens. The body gradually replaces the foreign Ossiofiber material with new bone.

This process – known as osseointegration – unfolds in a predictable, well-documented timeline. In the first weeks after surgery, the implant holds the repaired bone firmly in place at that three-times-bone-strength starting point. Over the following months, the body begins remodeling the implant site, with new bone tissue gradually infiltrating and replacing the Ossiofiber material. By around the two-year mark, the implant has been fully replaced by the patient’s own living bone. There is no metal, no PEEK polymer, and no permanent foreign material left behind – just healthy, regenerated bone where the implant once was.

Because the Ossiofiber integrates completely into the bone, the need to remove metal surgical hardware is also a thing of the past, as is leaving metal in the body. This can cause a reaction or irritation, potentially triggering a second surgery to remove the metal.

Ossiofiber has also helped reduce recovery time because the material becomes increasingly “sticky,” making fixation even stronger than metal hardware and adding extra strength and support to the bunion cut. This allows faster recovery and a quicker return to regular shoes.

This progressive increase in fixation strength – sometimes called the implant’s “stickiness” – is one of the most clinically significant advantages of the bio-integrative approach. Traditional metal screws maintain a fixed grip but do not bond with surrounding bone the way Ossiofiber does. Conventional resorbable implants, by contrast, lose strength as they break down, which can compromise stability during the critical healing window. Ossiofiber threads the needle between both: it starts strong, grows stronger as it integrates, and ultimately disappears entirely, leaving only bone behind.

“Amazing” is the best word Dr. Bob’s patients use to describe it.

Why Dr. Bob’s Metal-Free Surgery is the Best Option for All Patients

Traditional Metal Surgery

For decades, foot & ankle surgeries relied on metal screws, plates, and pins. But metal can cause:

• Excessive Pain & swelling
• Metal Allergic reactions
• Cold sensitivity
• Need for removal surgery
• Loosening or irritation

vs

Dr. Baravarian’s Metal-Free Surgery

Dr. Bob helped develop OSSIOfiber, a groundbreaking material that:

• Is stronger than metal surgical hardware
• Bonds to bone & becomes bone in 2 years or less
• Greatly reduces inflammation & pain
• Heals faster than metal
• Completely integrates into your bone so there is never anything to remove post-surgery

What are the advantages of OSSIOfiber over traditional metal hardware?

Now that you understand how OSSIOfiber works at a biological level, it’s worth stepping back and asking the practical question most patients have: why does this actually matter for my recovery and my life? The advantages go well beyond the operating room, and they’re the reason Dr. Baravarian has made metal-free techniques a cornerstone of his pioneering approach to foot and ankle surgery.

The most significant benefit is straightforward – there is no metal to ever remove. With traditional hardware, roughly 15% of patients need a second procedure just to remove screws or plates causing irritation, infection, or pain. That means a second anesthesia, a second recovery, and a second disruption to your life. OSSIOfiber eliminates that risk entirely because the implant gradually becomes bone over time, leaving nothing foreign behind.

Beyond avoiding revision surgery, patients consistently report two quality-of-life improvements that metal hardware simply cannot offer. First, there’s no cold-weather discomfort – that familiar aching or throbbing that many patients with permanent metal implants experience when temperatures drop. Second, because OSSIOfiber is non-metallic, it does not interfere with MRI imaging, so if you ever need diagnostic scans down the road, there are no complications or distortions to worry about.

There’s also a biological advantage. Because OSSIOfiber is bio-integrated rather than simply tolerated by the body, it promotes faster healing and stronger bone consolidation around the repair site. This means less pain during recovery and a quicker return to the activities you love. For patients dealing with conditions like bunions or Achilles tendon problems, that faster healing can make a meaningful difference in overall outcomes.

Which foot and ankle procedures can use OSSIOfiber fixation?

One of the most exciting things about OSSIOfiber technology is its versatility. When patients first hear about metal-free fixation, they often assume it only applies to bunion surgery, but this bio-integrated hardware can be used across a remarkably wide range of foot and ankle procedures. That’s a big deal, because it means more patients can benefit from non-metal hardware that becomes bone, regardless of what condition brought them through the door.

At DOCS Foot and Ankle, Dr. Baravarian uses OSSIOfiber fixation across his full suite of metal-free surgical services. That includes metal-free bunion surgery, Achilles tendon repair, hammertoe correction, hallux rigidus surgery, heel spur surgery, flat foot reconstruction, plantar plate tear repair, midfoot and hindfoot fusion, and cavus foot correction. Whether the procedure involves fusing bones, reattaching tendons, or realigning toe joints, OSSIOfiber implants provide the state-of-the-art fixation needed to hold everything securely in place while healing unfolds.

This broad applicability matters for patients who have multiple issues to address at once – a common scenario in reconstructive surgery. Rather than mixing metal hardware with resorbable implants, Dr. Baravarian can often use a consistent, pioneering metal-free approach throughout a single procedure, simplifying recovery and eliminating the worry of later hardware removal.

If you’re dealing with any of the most common causes of foot pain and wondering whether a metal-free surgical option exists for your specific condition, the answer is very likely yes. A personalized consultation with Dr. Baravarian’s team will confirm which approach best fits your tailored treatment plan.

Is OSSIOfiber FDA-cleared and clinically proven?

This is one of the first questions patients ask – and it’s a smart one. When you’re considering any surgical implant, you want to know that regulators have reviewed the science and that real clinical outcomes back up the claims. The good news is that OSSIOfiber has a strong track record on both fronts.

OSSIOfiber has received multiple FDA clearances, achieving three separate clearances in just four months as it expanded its portfolio of bio-integrative fixation devices. That pace of regulatory approval reflects how thoroughly the underlying technology has been evaluated. Each clearance covers specific implant designs used across a range of foot and ankle procedures – from bunion correction to Achilles tendon repair – giving surgeons like Dr. Baravarian a full toolkit of metal-free hardware options for virtually any case.

Beyond regulatory approval, the clinical evidence is equally reassuring. Studies show that roughly 15% of patients who receive traditional metal hardware eventually require a second surgery just to have it removed – that’s a significant number of people going back under anesthesia for a procedure that could have been avoided entirely. OSSIOfiber eliminates that risk because the implant gradually transforms into bone over approximately two years, leaving no metal to ever remove.

Early clinical data also show strong fixation, reliable healing, and fewer complications from hardware irritation. For anyone researching outdated bunion surgery techniques or wondering whether newer approaches are truly safer, OSSIOfiber’s FDA clearances and growing body of clinical evidence offer genuine, well-founded confidence that this pioneering technology is ready for your care.

What do Dr. Baravarian’s OSSIOfiber patients say?

Clinical data and FDA clearances are reassuring, but sometimes the most powerful proof comes from patients who have lived the experience. Across Dr. Baravarian’s practice at DOCS Foot and Ankle, the feedback from OSSIOfiber patients tells a remarkably consistent story: less pain, faster healing, and genuine peace of mind knowing there is no metal hardware left behind in their body.

Patients who previously worried about outdated bunion surgery techniques – including the discomfort of metal screws and the prospect of a second removal procedure – frequently describe their OSSIOfiber experience as a turning point. Many share that they were back on their feet sooner than they expected, with far less post-operative swelling than friends or family members had warned them about after traditional metal-fixation surgeries.

A common theme is confidence. Patients appreciate that Dr. Bob takes the time to walk them through exactly how OSSIOfiber works – explaining the bio-integrated, non-metal hardware that gradually becomes bone – so they feel genuinely informed before they ever enter the operating room. That personalized care and tailored treatment plan approach makes a real difference in how patients experience their recovery.

Athletes and active Los Angeles residents especially value the quicker recovery timeline, often noting they returned to walking, exercise, and daily routines ahead of schedule. For many, the biggest relief is simply knowing there is no metal to ever remove – no second surgery, no lingering hardware concerns, just a foot that heals naturally and feels completely their own.

Dr. Baravarian is the national leader in metal-free minimally invasive bunion surgery.

Ossiofiber is a revolutionary material used in foot and ankle surgery, currently employed for specific procedures, including bunion surgery. Ossiofiber surgical fixation devices will soon be available for virtually all types of foot and ankle surgery.

Dr. Bob Baravarian is one of the most experienced OSSIOfiber surgeons in the country – a world-recognized foot and ankle specialist who was among the first surgeons in the United States trained in bio-integrated, metal-free fixation techniques. As the surgeon other doctors trust for their toughest cases, Dr. Baravarian has performed hundreds of metal-free procedures using OSSIOfiber hardware, spanning bunion correction, Achilles tendon repair, hammertoe surgery, flat foot reconstruction, and beyond. His pioneering work with this technology has made DOCS Foot and Ankle a destination for patients across Los Angeles and nationwide who are seeking a truly metal-free alternative to traditional implants.

What sets Dr. Baravarian apart is not just his unmatched skill in the operating room – it is his commitment to personalized care. He takes the time to get to know every patient personally, building a tailored treatment plan as if he were caring for his own family. Whether you are a first-time surgical candidate or seeking revision surgery after a previous procedure, Dr. Baravarian will walk you through every option, explain exactly how OSSIOfiber works in your specific case, and set realistic expectations for your recovery. Faster healing, less pain, and no metal to ever remove – that is the standard his patients have come to expect.

If you are ready to explore what metal-free, minimally invasive foot and ankle surgery could mean for you, learn more about Dr. Baravarian’s Metal-Free Ghost Surgery System or contact our team today to request a personalized consultation.