Iowa doctors offer Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®

July 6, 2026 – WAUKEE, Iowa — A modern bunion surgery option, Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®, is available to patients in central Iowa. Bunions are complex, three‑dimensional deformities caused by an unstable joint in the middle of the foot that allows the metatarsal bone to lean, elevate, and rotate out of alignment, rather than simply being an extra bump of bone.s.^1,3

For years, individuals like 39‑year‑old Lindsay Allen of Slater, Iowa, have endured bunion‑related foot pain for extended periods. Traditional bunion surgery has often involved removing bone and reattaching it, which raised concerns for some patients about recovery time and the longevity of results.

Her perspective shifted after learning about the team at the Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa. Dr. Paul Dayton and his wife, Dr. Mindi Dayton, are co‑inventors of Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® and helped pioneer this 3D approach. As Dr. Mindi Dayton has described, Lapiplasty® was “born from doctors’ dissatisfaction with bunion surgery” and is a philosophy of fixing the deformity in 3D in a reproducible way that is “good for the doctor and patient.”

Dr. Paul Dayton, a Lapiplasty® surgical expert, explains the core idea behind their technique: “We came across this idea that if we addressed it at the base of the bone and we treated it in three planes, so moving it in three directions at the same time, that we could get very, very good results.” Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction® is designed to return the entire metatarsal bone to normal alignment (a 3D correction) and to secure the root cause of the deformity—an unstable joint.^4,6 The procedure uses patented instruments and implants developed to enable surgeons to reproducibly correct all three dimensions of the bunion and stabilize the joint.

In addition to treating patients, Dr. Dayton has instructed many surgeons across the country in the Lapiplasty® technique. Among them is Dr. Jesseka Kaldenberg‑Leppert, a foot and ankle podiatric surgeon who performed Allen’s surgery. Emphasizing the procedural philosophy, Dr. Kaldenberg‑Leppert notes, “The way we do our procedure makes it so that you can walk early,” reflecting the published data showing return to weight‑bearing in a boot in less than two weeks for many patients.^4,7 This early protected weight‑bearing can help patients begin to resume day‑to‑day activities as their surgeon allows.

Allen, a mother of two young children, chose to address her bunion when it began to limit family activities. “We go camping, they ride their bikes. I walk our dogs,” she said, underscoring her desire to keep up with an active lifestyle. After consulting with the Foot and Ankle Center of Iowa and learning about Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction®, she felt more confident moving forward with surgery.

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. The opinions expressed by this doctor are their own and not necessarily that of TMC Inc. 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. For more information on benefits, risks, and recovery, visit Lapiplasty.com.

TMC Inc. is not recommending any particular surgeon. Patients should make an independent determination regarding the qualifications of suitability of Lapiplasty® surgeons found at Lapiplasty.com/doctor.