Lapiplasty® Bunion Correction
Dr. Andrew Gunter is a credentialed Lapiplasty® provider with extensive experience in 3D bunion correction — and also performs minimally invasive bunion surgery for appropriate candidates. At your consultation, he recommends the procedure that is right for your specific bunion. San Antonio, TX.
Call (210) 581-9800
What Is Lapiplasty®?
Lapiplasty® is a 3D bunion correction system developed by Treace Medical Concepts that addresses the bunion deformity at its root cause — the unstable metatarsocuneiform joint at the base of the first metatarsal — rather than simply cutting and shifting the metatarsal bone as traditional bunion surgery does.
Traditional bunion procedures — including chevron and other osteotomies — address the bunion by cutting the metatarsal shaft and repositioning the bone in two dimensions. While effective, these techniques leave the unstable joint at the base of the metatarsal untreated, which is why traditional bunion surgery carries a meaningful recurrence rate.
Lapiplasty corrects the deformity in all three planes — rotating the metatarsal back into its correct anatomical alignment in the sagittal, transverse, and frontal planes simultaneously — and then permanently stabilizes the metatarsocuneiform joint with titanium plating. By addressing the instability that caused the bunion to develop in the first place, Lapiplasty is designed to produce a more durable correction with a lower recurrence rate than traditional two-dimensional osteotomy techniques.
The procedure is performed under anesthesia as an outpatient at a nearby hospital or ambulatory surgical center. Most Lapiplasty patients are walking in a post-operative boot within days of surgery — earlier than traditional bunion surgery allows — because the titanium fixation provides immediate stability that conventional fixation does not.
Dr. Gunter has performed Lapiplasty procedures extensively and holds Treace Medical credentialing for the technique. His experience with the procedure gives him a detailed understanding of both its advantages and the patient presentations for which it is most appropriate.
A SUMMARY:
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3D correction in all three planes — not just two
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Permanently stabilizes the metatarsocuneiform joint
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Titanium plate fixation — immediate stability
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For moderate to severe bunion deformities
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Addresses the root cause — not just the visible bump
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Designed for lower recurrence than traditional osteotomy
Lapiplasty® vs. Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery — How Dr. Gunter Chooses
Dr. Gunter is one of a small number of podiatric surgeons in San Antonio who performs both Lapiplasty and minimally invasive bunion surgery. At your consultation, he evaluates the specific characteristics of your bunion — severity, metatarsocuneiform joint stability, bone quality, activity demands, and personal recovery goals — and recommends the approach most appropriate to your individual situation. Here is how the two procedures generally compare:
Lapiplasty®
Small percutaneous — typically a few millimeters
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Larger incision for direct joint visualization and correction
Best suited for
Moderate to severe bunions with joint instability at the metatarsocuneiform joint
Mild to moderate bunions in appropriate candidates
Incision
Standard open incision with titanium plate fixation
Small percutaneous incisions — minimal scarring
Weight bearing
Walking in post-op boot within days
Walking in post-op shoe same day for most patients
Joint addressed
Metatarsocuneiform joint — root cause correction
First metatarsophalangeal joint realignment
Fixation
Titanium plates with screws
Percutaneous technique with two screws
Recovery
Up to six weeks in boot; gradual return to activity
Faster return to normal footwear for many patients with goal of four weeks
The most important thing to know about this comparison
No table can substitute for a consultation. The right procedure for your bunion depends on factors that only a thorough clinical evaluation and weight-bearing imaging can determine. Dr. Gunter does not have a preferred procedure — he has a preferred outcome: a correctly aligned, stable, durable correction that gets you back to the activities you care about. The procedure is chosen in service of that outcome.
What Happens at Your Bunion Consultation
A bunion surgery consultation with Dr. Gunter is a thorough evaluation — not a sales presentation for a specific procedure. He reviews your symptoms, activity demands, and treatment goals; examines the bunion clinically; obtains weight-bearing X-rays; and evaluates the stability of the metatarsocuneiform joint and the overall mechanics of the forefoot.
Based on this evaluation, he explains which procedure — Lapiplasty, minimally invasive correction, or another approach — he recommends for your specific bunion and why. He answers your questions about recovery, expected outcomes, and the surgical process in detail before any decision is made. There is no pressure to proceed on the day of the consultation.
For patients who have already researched Lapiplasty extensively and have questions about whether they are a candidate, the consultation is the right place to have that conversation with a surgeon who has performed the procedure many times and can give you an honest assessment based on your individual anatomy.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Gunter
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Frequently Asked Questions — Lapiplasty® Bunion Correction
Researching Lapiplasty or MIS bunion procedures in San Antonio? Talk to a surgeon who performs both.
Dr. Andrew Gunter, DPM is a credentialed Lapiplasty® provider and minimally invasive bunion surgeon who recommends the most appropriate procedure for your specific bunion at consultation — not the procedure the practice has decided to specialize in. CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Alamo Heights. Serving San Antonio and surrounding communities. Same-day consultation appointments available. Most insurance plans accepted.
Call (210) 581-9800