From the time she was a young child, Sunny was embarrassed by the appearance of the bunion on her right foot. “I loved to dance when I was younger and I remember the other kids pointing, whispering and even asking if my foot was broken,” the 27-year-old Tifton, Georgian recalls. “I knew what it was – because bunions run in my family and I had watched my aunt and cousin struggle with them too. I thought it might get easier to deal with the condition when I eventually gave up dance and started working, but then the bunion starting to grow painful over time!”

Shortly after starting a career within a collegiate marketing department, Sunny struggled to find shoes that were both appropriate for an office setting and comfortable enough to support long walks across campus. “Pain from my bunion was on my mind at work, at home, when I was out with friends— it was a constant issue,” she said. “During the rare moments when the bunion was not throbbing, it would still occupy me – as I would work hard to keep it concealed from others’ view. The process was mentally, emotionally and physically draining.” Sunny reached out to her cousin for guidance and learned that she had recently undergone surgery to correct the deformity. Her cousin was very happy with her results and recommended Sunny meet with Dr. Eric Massa at Ankle & Foot Associates LLC to discuss her options.

Dr. Massa explained that he could take two approaches to correct her bunion. The first was a traditional 2D osteotomy that would focus on shaving down the boney bump, which would fix the issue cosmetically. However, he explained that this procedure would not address the root cause of the problem, an unstable joint in the foot. Sunny also learned that the recovery time could be lengthy and that nearly 70% of patients who opt for that approach report that their bunion returned over time.1 In contrast, Dr. Massa described a new Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ Procedure that would correct the bunion in all three dimensions. Patented titanium plates would be used to secure the joint, which lessen the risk of the bunion returning, while offering the chance for a faster recovery. Sunny said she almost laughed after learning about the two options. “Why would I bother with a surgery that only puts a bandage on my problem?” She continued, “the Lapiplasty® Procedure just made the most sense to me. I was so tired of my life revolving around my bunion. I decided to move forward with the procedure as soon as possible.”

Sunny had surgery on her right foot in October 2018. She used a scooter to get across campus for about two weeks and then transitioned to a walking boot. “I was in pain after surgery for about three days, but then nearly overnight it disappeared,” Sunny said. “The recovery was much faster than I expected. I could not believe how much better my foot looked and felt within just a few short weeks!”

With summer just around the corner, Sunny cannot wait to walk into a shoe store with her newfound confidence. “This is going to change the way I approach shopping for myself,” she explained. “I am no longer embarrassed by the way my feet look, nor am I worried about limiting my activities because of the pain my bunion caused. My only regret is that I did not do this sooner.”

1. Jeuken RM, et al. Foot Ankle Int. 2016. 37:687-95.

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ is right for you. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and this experience is unique and specific to this patient only. There are potential risks with surgery and recovery takes time. Potential risks include, but are not limited to: infection, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion.