Bunion Surgery

Bunion surgery aims to correct a bony bump that forms on the side of the foot at the base of the big toe, which causes the big toe to angle towards the other side of the foot. In certain cases, this causes significant pain, swelling, and impaired function in the foot. Practically speaking it makes walking uncomfortable, and many shoes unbearable.

Surgical intervention is used to remove the bony bump, help align the big toe to a natural position, regain proper foot function, and get rid of pain.

Shorter wait times

Consults and surgery dates are typically scheduled in weeks—not months—which means faster relief and return to work, sport, and caregiving duties.

Choice & control

Ability to choose a surgeon based on what's important to you (i.e. specific expertise, experience, qualifications, personal connection).

Certainty

Private pathways typically provide a clear quote and surgery date/timeline, so you can arrange time off, caregiver help, and rehab. This certainty can ease anxiety and help families plan for recovery.

Preventing further decline

• Deformity progression: Untreated bunions can worsen over time, increasing pain, crossing or crowding toes, and making later correction more complex.
• Secondary problems: Ongoing malalignment can cause transfer metatarsalgia, hammertoes, calluses, and difficulty with balance and gait.
• Shoe and activity limits: Earlier correction can reduce years of restricted footwear choices, reduced walking tolerance, and compensatory issues in knees/hips.
• Surgical simplicity: Addressing a bunion before severe deformity may allow less invasive procedures and smoother recovery.

1. ‍Confirm your diagnosis. Most patients start with a family doctor or specialist who confirms that bunion surgery is needed.
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2. Research. Explore surgeons who specialize in private bunion surgery.
   • You can find surgeons in Vancouver, British Columbia; Calgary, Alberta; Toronto, Ontario; and Montréal, Québec on our app, and review qualifications, as well as pricing.
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3. Schedule an initial consultation. Most surgeons offer in-clinic and online consults.
   
   • Consultations are usually booked within days or a few weeks.
   • Note: expect a consultation fee between $150 - $350.
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4. Consultation. The surgeon will review your condition, symptoms, and any previous treatments or diagnostics, such as x-rays or MRIs.
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5. ‍Post consultation. The surgeon will then review your case and provide surgical options based on your needs; review the risks and expected outcomes; and present pricing and scheduling options.
   
   • Because the procedure is not covered by your provincial health plan when done privately, you’ll need to review the quoted cost and consider payment options (out-of-pocket, private insurance, or financing).
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6. Schedule your surgery date. Once you confirm the procedure and payment, the clinic will schedule your surgery—generally within a few weeks.
   
   • Plan for travel and accommodation, since the surgery will likely take place outside your home province.
   • Expect pre-surgery preparation, and possibly some pre-surgery tests.

Bunion surgery usually takes 45 to 120 minutes, depending on severity of the underlying issue.

• Anesthesia: Your foot is numbed (sometimes you’re sleepy too).
• Small cuts: Around the big toe joint.
• Shave bump: Remove extra bone on the side.
• Realign bone: Make a precise cut (osteotomy), slide the bone to straighten the toe.
• Fixation: Hold it with tiny screws/plates so it heals straight.
• Soft tissues: Release/tighten ligaments to balance the toe.
• Close skin and bandage.

The recovery process varies patient to patient. Your recovery might look quite different, so please seek further guidance from your surgeon. In general here is what you can expect:

Week 1:

• Goals: Pain and swelling management, wound protection, initial basic movement.

• Activities:
  
  • Same day discharge, likely with a post-operative shoe or sandal.
  • Elevated rest for most of the day.
  • Focus on keeping the area clean to avoid infection.
  • Limited walking or weight-bearing.

Weeks 2-4:

• Goals: Wound healing and slowly ramping up activity.
  

• Activities:
  
  • Wound care, possibly removing stitches.
  • Transition to regular footwear.
  • Increase walking distance and slowly resume normal daily activities.
  • Start physiotherapy, as directed.
  • Returning to work, depending on how physically demanding your job is.
  • Potentially driving if you can perform an emergency stop (i.e. slamming on the breaks).

Weeks 5-12:

• Goals: Increase mobility and strength.

• Activities:
  
  • Continue to push for longer distances walking.
  • Resuming most normal activities.
  • Returning to work where spend a lot of time on your feet.

Weeks 13-52:

• Goals: Regain full or near-full range of motion, recover your lost strength and stamina, and slowly return to normal activity levels and sports.

• Activities:
  
  • Physical therapy may continue the entire first year post operation, gradually bringing you back to your activity levels pre-surgery.
  • Daily exercises are no longer essential once you achieve normal range of motion and strength, but routine exercise is encouraged to keep muscles strong.
  • You will be able to return to low impact sports like golf, tennis, swimming, or cycling. For anything high impact, please consult your surgeon and physio.

Private clinics in Canada charge between $5,000 - $8,000 per foot.

In the United States, the average cost is $8,200 per foot.

Costs vary so much because of location, surgeon experience, facility type, complexity, and included services (some clinics offer all-inclusive, while others charge separately for anesthesia, followup care, etc.).

What’s included

Most quotes for private bunion surgery cover:

• Surgeon fee (and assistant if used).
• Anesthesia (local with sedation or general; varies by clinic).
• Hospital/clinic facility fees (OR time, nursing, supplies).
• Standard implants/fixation (screws/plates) for routine cases.
• Immediate post‑operative care and routine early follow‑ups (wound checks, suture removal).
• Post‑op shoe/boot and initial rehab instructions (varies).

What’s usually not included:

• Pre‑op consults and advanced imaging beyond basic X‑rays.
• Custom orthotics or special footwear after initial healing.
• Extended physiotherapy beyond initial guidance.
• Extra/specialty implants for complex or revision cases.
• Unexpected overnight admission or ER visits; additional imaging for complications.
• Medications after you go home (pain meds, antibiotics if prescribed).
• Travel and accommodation if surgery is out‑of‑province.
• Fees for managing complications or re‑operations beyond the routine global period (policy dependent).

Insurance and financing options

• Private health insurance: Some plans may cover part of the costs, such as hospital fees. It’s important to check your policy directly.
• Financing plans: Many clinics offer monthly payment options to help spread out the cost. Learn more about your financing options here.‍
• Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC): This is a non-refundable credit that reduces your taxes when you pay out-of-pocket for eligible medical expenses. Learn more about how to claim METC for private surgeries.

Choosing your surgeon is one of the benefits of going the private route. Here’s what to consider and the key questions to bring to your bunion surgery consultation.

What to look for

• Experience and volume
  • Ask how many bunion/forefoot procedures they perform each year, and their mix (minimally invasive/MIS vs open scarf/chevron, Lapidus fusion, revisions). Volume and familiarity matter.
• Credentials and training
  • Confirm licensure with the provincial college (e.g., CPSO in Ontario, CPSBC in BC, CPSA in Alberta).
  • For orthopaedic surgeons: look for FRCSC certification with foot & ankle fellowship training. For podiatric surgeons: verify surgical credentials and hospital/surgical privileges in your province.
• Specialization and outcomes
  • Prefer surgeons focused on foot and ankle. Ask about infection, nonunion, nerve irritation, hardware removal, recurrence rates, and unplanned re‑operations.
• Procedure selection philosophy
  • How they choose MIS vs open, distal osteotomy (chevron/scarf) vs Lapidus (first TMT fusion), bunionette or lesser toe work when needed.
  • Approach to addressing first‑ray instability, pronation, metatarsalgia, or crossover toe at the same sitting.‍
• Facility accreditation‍
  
  • Choose clinics accredited bnational bodies such as Accreditation Canada or the Canadian Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (CAAASF). ‍
• Rehab integration‍
  
  • Foot‑savvy physiotherapy, a phased written protocol, and coordination with your local therapist—especially if you’re traveling.

Questions to ask during your bunion surgery consultation

Surgeon and surgery plan

• How many bunion surgeries do you perform yearly? What are your complication and recurrence rates? How often do you remove hardware?
• Which procedure do you recommend for me (MIS chevron/scarf, Lapidus, Akin, bunionette correction)? Why this choice?
• What fixation do you use (screws/plates), and is hardware removal common?
• Will you correct related problems at the same time (second‑toe deformity, metatarsalgia, flatfoot)? How does that change recovery?
• What anesthesia do you recommend (local with/without sedation vs regional/general) and why?
• Where will surgery be performed (ambulatory center vs hospital)? Is it fully accredited?

Recovery and aftercare

• Weight‑bearing: Surgical shoe vs boot; immediate protected weight‑bearing vs partial/non‑weight‑bearing? For how long?
• Footwear timeline: When can I transition to wide shoes, then normal shoes? When can I drive, return to desk vs standing/manual work, and sports?
• Swelling and scar care: Strategies, taping, toe spacers, and expected duration of swelling.
• Pin/suture removal: If used, when and where? Is it included in the fee?
• Red flags: What symptoms should prompt me to call or go to the ER?
• Communication: Who is my post‑op contact (direct line/email)? Typical response times? How many follow‑ups are included?

Costs and logistics

• What exactly is included in my quote (surgeon, facility, anesthesia, implants, dressings, shoe/boot, imaging, follow‑ups)? What could add cost (additional osteotomies, Lapidus vs MIS, hardware upgrades, unexpected overnight stay, complications)?
• If a complication occurs or a revision is needed, how are costs handled? Do you have a revision policy?
• If I’m traveling from another province, which follow‑ups can be virtual? Will I receive the operative note, implant list, and rehab/footwear plan for my local providers/insurer?