A bunion is a bony protrusion that forms on the inside of the foot near the joint of the big toe. It can be painful can affect your daily activities. If conservative treatment options have failed, a surgery called a bunionectomy is often suggested.
Having one foot affected by a bunion is troublesome enough but having both feet affected can severely affect one’s ability to walk. However, choosing to have surgery on both feet at the same time is often a difficult decision to make.
Pros and Cons of Bilateral Bunionectomy
If you are suffering from pain and swelling due to bunions on both of your feet, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove one or both bunions. A bilateral bunionectomy removes bunions of both feet at the same time and can be done to correct the alignment of the big toe and repair tissue around it.
Once you consult with your podiatrist, you will be advised on the type of bunion surgery that will work best for your condition. Your podiatrist will examine and evaluate your bunions and decide if having both feet done at the same time will be beneficial for your needs.
The reason that many patients want to have bunion surgery done on both feet at the same time is for convenience. Many prefer to be done with the surgery all at once instead of waiting to do one at a time. However, many doctors recommend waiting six to eight weeks between surgeries and having one bunion removed at a time.
There are a variety of reasons not to have your bunion surgery done on both feet at the same time such as:
- Limited mobility after surgery since you will not be able to put pressure on either foot
- More difficult to care for both feet after surgery rather than just one
- Overall recovery may be slower
- You may favor one foot more than the other making one foot recover more successfully than the other one
When to See a Podiatrist
If you have questions about bunion surgery or are experiencing foot pain, Greater Washington Advanced Podiatry can help. We offer a free initial consultation and can create a customized plan to address your concerns. To set up an appointment, fill out our contact form or call us at (301) 515-FEET.