How does one determine between a surgical and non-surgical procedure for treating different severities of bunions?

Thank you for your question. It’s something I get asked very frequently. Unfortunately, the answer would be a big emphatic yes. 90% of bunions are genetic (do see your mother’s, grandma’s, sisters or female cousins feet). Most people would try things like strapping, toe spacers etc. All these will not work in the end, and the deformity reverts once they are removed. Bunions usually progress with time, and left untreated, they will start affecting the adjacent toes, gait, and cause generalised foot pain or deformity.

Hi Jasmine Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for mild to moderate cases of bunions. But it will depend on other factors as well. There is a higher recurrence rate for severe bunions if MIS correction is done for them. I would need to examine your feet more thoroughly before I can let you know whether the MIS correction can be done. Looking at the pictures, the left side is more severe than the right side (moderate). So I would say on first glance, MIS can be either right, or be a KIV MIS, or via a mini-open approach.