Returning to my Shoes After Lapiplasty 3D Bunion correction

I love fashion, weight training and going on long walks. In 2020, I noticed that I was developing bunions and wasted no time finding a treatment option that would get me back into my favorite designer shoes.

Bunions are a common and painful condition that occurs when bones in the mid-foot slide out of
alignment, resulting in a noticeable bump on the side of the big toe 1 , 2 . Bunions can impact any individual regardless of their gender, shoe choice or lifestyle 3 , 4 . In fact, about one in four U.S. American adults develop the deformity 5 .
As a fashionista, having bunions bothered me terribly. Having an extensive shoe collection, I tried to avoid wearing open toed shoes or sandals because of my bunions. Even my regular walking shoes were starting to look deformed because the bump on my toe was pushing on them.

I was skeptical of bunion surgery and did not want to undergo any procedures unless I knew that I had the best chance of a full recovery. I spent a year researching the latest treatment options and discovered Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®. Before I met with a doctor to discuss the approach, I made sure to join social media support groups and read about other people’s experiences with the procedure.

I eventually made a consultative appointment with Dr. Michael Theodoulou at Cambridge Health
Alliance and felt confident in moving forward with the Lapiplasty® Procedure.
Dr. Theodoulou was very patient with me and answered all my questions about the procedure. He saw how concerned I was, and he appreciated the research I did before my appointment. I had a list of questions and concerns, and he said that while no outcome is guaranteed, he was confident that I would be able to get back into my favorite heels.
I underwent the Lapiplasty® Procedure on my right foot in January 2023. I experienced some post- operative pain due to the severity of my bunion deformity but was able to manage it with medication. I underwent the procedure on my left foot two months later. Within about three days of each procedure, I received clearance from Dr. Theodoulou to bear weight on the treated foot as tolerated 6 .

As part of my personal recovery plan developed by my surgeon, I wore a surgical boot for about three weeks while recovering before transitioning to a wide sneaker 7 . I have a very active lifestyle, which I feel helped me during my recovery. While it is never fun to recover from surgery, I was determined to get back into my nice shoes.

Since my recovery, I wouldn’t change anything about my experience with the Lapiplasty® Procedure. I have even recommended the procedure to friends, family and colleagues who are living with bunions. I tell people to just visit a doctor and see if they are a candidate. Surgery can be scary, but the Lapiplasty®

Procedure is worth it.

Lapiplasty® is a surgical procedure. Only a surgeon can tell if the Lapiplasty® Procedure is right for you.
This experience is unique and specific to this patient only. Individual results may vary depending on age, weight, health, and other variables. There are risks and recovery takes time. For more information about recovery from the Lapiplasty® Procedure, see the recovery information and discuss the post-surgery recovery process with your doctor. Risks include infection, pain, implant loosening and loss of correction with improper bone healing. If any of these occur, additional treatments may be needed. For more information on benefits, risks and recovery, visit Lapiplasty.com.

1 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.
2 WebMD Website ©2024.
3 American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) Website ©2024.
4 WebMD Website ©2024.
5 Nix S, et al. J Foot Ankle Res. 2010. 27:3:21.
6 Based on physician’s guidance

7 Based on physician’s guidance