Hallux Valgus (Bunion) Surgery in Turkey
Surgical correction of bunions, realign your big toe, relieve pain, and walk comfortably again. from £6,005 with hospital stay, 8 nights hotel, transfers, and aftercare.
A bunion (hallux valgus) is more than a cosmetic issue, it can cause significant pain, difficulty walking, and make finding comfortable shoes almost impossible. If conservative measures like wider shoes, orthotics, and padding have not resolved your discomfort, surgery can realign the bones of your big toe and restore comfortable movement.
NHS waiting times for bunion surgery can be 12-18 months or more, and many NHS trusts have restricted access to the procedure. In Turkey, your surgery is performed by an experienced orthopaedic surgeon in a government-licensed hospital, with a 10-night stay to allow proper initial recovery before travelling home.
A private bunion correction in the UK costs between £5,000 and £9,000 per foot. Your all-inclusive package starts from £6,005 covering the procedure, 2 nights in hospital, 8 nights in a 5-star hotel, all transfers, and aftercare.
What Is Hallux Valgus (Bunion) Surgery?
Hallux valgus is a progressive deformity of the big toe joint where the big toe drifts toward the second toe, causing a bony bump to form on the inside of the foot. Over time, the misalignment worsens, the bump becomes larger and more painful, and the joint can become stiff and arthritic.
Surgery corrects the deformity by realigning the bones, ligaments, and tendons of the big toe. The most common procedure is an osteotomy, your surgeon makes precise cuts in the bone to straighten the alignment, then fixes the bones in their corrected position with small screws or pins. The bony bump is also removed.
Several surgical techniques exist (Scarf, Chevron, Lapidus, and others), and your surgeon will recommend the best approach based on the severity of your deformity, the condition of the joint, and your activity level.
The procedure typically takes 45-90 minutes per foot. It can be performed under general or regional anaesthesia.
Am I Suitable?
Bunion surgery is recommended when the deformity causes persistent pain and functional limitation that conservative treatments have not resolved.
You may be a good candidate if:
- Your bunion causes persistent pain, especially when walking or wearing shoes
- The deformity is progressive (getting worse over time)
- Conservative treatments (wider shoes, orthotics, padding) have not provided sufficient relief
- You have difficulty finding comfortable footwear
- The bunion is affecting your mobility or quality of life
You may not be suitable if:
- Your bunion is painless and purely cosmetic (surgery is not recommended for cosmetic reasons alone)
- You have poor circulation in your feet (peripheral vascular disease)
- You have uncontrolled diabetes that affects wound healing
- You have unrealistic expectations about immediate return to activity
What Happens During the Procedure?
Before your procedure
A consultation reviews your deformity, examines your foot, and discusses surgical options. X-rays are taken to assess the bone alignment and plan the correction.
On the day
You are admitted to hospital. The procedure takes 45-90 minutes per foot. Your surgeon corrects the bone alignment with precise osteotomy cuts, removes the bony bump, and fixes the corrected position with small screws or pins.
Hospital stay (2 nights)
Your foot is dressed and placed in a special post-operative shoe or boot. Pain is managed with medication. You will be shown how to walk using the special shoe and given crutches if needed.
Hotel recovery (8 nights)
The extended hotel stay is essential for this procedure. Your foot needs to be elevated regularly, and you must avoid putting full weight on it. Follow-up appointments check wound healing and alignment. The long stay ensures proper initial recovery before you travel.
Back home
You will continue wearing the special shoe for 4-6 weeks. Crutches may be needed initially. Physiotherapy helps restore mobility.
Recovery & Aftercare
Bunion surgery recovery is longer than many other procedures, patience and compliance with your surgeon's instructions are essential.
Days 1-3: Significant swelling and discomfort, managed with elevation and medication. Keep the foot elevated as much as possible. Use the post-operative shoe for all walking.
Weeks 1-2: Swelling gradually reduces. Limited, careful walking in the special shoe. Keep the foot elevated when resting.
Weeks 2-6: Continue wearing the special shoe. Stitches removed around week 2. Gentle toe exercises may begin. Gradually increase walking distance.
Weeks 6-12: Transition to supportive shoes. Physiotherapy to restore range of motion. Progressive return to normal walking.
Months 3-6: Full recovery. Return to exercise and normal footwear. Some swelling may persist for several months, this is normal.
Important: Avoid tight shoes, high heels, and impact activities for at least 3 months.
Risks & Considerations
Bunion surgery is a common and generally successful procedure, but recovery is significant.
Common effects:
- Swelling (can persist for 3-6 months)
- Stiffness of the big toe joint (improves with physiotherapy)
- Numbness around the incision (usually temporary)
- Discomfort during recovery
Less common risks:
- Infection (rare)
- Recurrence of the bunion over time (uncommon with modern techniques)
- Over-correction or under-correction
- Hardware (screw) irritation (screws can be removed later if needed)
- Delayed bone healing
- Blood clots (compression stockings and blood thinners used to prevent this)
Your surgery is performed by an experienced orthopaedic surgeon in a government-licensed hospital.
UK vs Turkey: What You Save
UK prices are indicative ranges based on private healthcare providers. Your THST price is confirmed during your free consultation.
UK Aftercare: We Are Here When You Get Home
Unlike other medical tourism companies, we do not leave you on your own once you are back in the UK. We have two dedicated aftercare clinics staffed by NHS-registered wound care specialists, so you can see a professional face-to-face for wound checks, dressing changes, and recovery support.
Medical disclaimer: Results of any surgical or interventional procedure may vary from person to person. You are advised to consult your physician for detailed information before undergoing any procedure. The information on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute medical advice. See our Medical Disclaimer for full details.
What Our Patients Say
Real reviews from real patients. Their words, not ours.
"Professional, caring, and thorough from start to finish. The hospital was excellent, the staff were lovely, and everything was explained clearly. I would definitely recommend."
"The whole journey exceeded my expectations. I was well informed before travelling, well cared for during my stay, and well supported after returning home. A fraction of UK cost."
"My experience was first class. From initial enquiry to 12 months of aftercare, every detail was handled with professionalism and genuine care. Outstanding facilities."
Frequently Asked Questions
While it is technically possible to operate on both feet, most surgeons recommend doing one foot at a time. Bilateral surgery significantly impacts your mobility during recovery, you need at least one functional foot to walk on. Doing one foot first, recovering, and then doing the second foot (typically 3-6 months later) gives you a better overall experience and outcome.
Bunion surgery involves bone cuts that need time to begin healing before you travel. The 10-night stay (2 hospital, 8 hotel) allows for proper wound care, follow-up X-rays to confirm alignment, and enough initial recovery to make travelling comfortable and safe. Flying too soon can increase swelling (the cabin pressure effect) and risk of blood clots. The extended stay protects your surgical result.
You will need to wear a special post-operative shoe for 4-6 weeks. After that, you can transition to supportive, comfortable shoes with a wide toe box. High heels and narrow shoes should be avoided for at least 3 months, and ideally longer. Most patients can wear their normal footwear (excluding very narrow or very high shoes) from about 3 months. Your surgeon will guide you based on your healing progress.
With modern surgical techniques, the recurrence rate is low, typically under 10%. However, bunions can recur over many years, particularly if the underlying biomechanical factors are not addressed. Wearing appropriate footwear, using orthotics if recommended, and maintaining foot health all help prevent recurrence. Your surgeon will advise on long-term foot care.
Low-impact activities like swimming (once the wound is healed) and cycling can usually resume around 6-8 weeks. Walking for exercise can gradually increase from week 4-6. Running and impact sports should wait until at least 3-4 months, and only when your surgeon confirms the bone has healed fully. Rushing back to impact activity risks the bone repair.
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