Foot & Bunion Surgery

A bunion forms when the bone at the base of the big toe drifts out of position, creating a visible bump and angling the toe toward its neighbors. It’s a structural problem, not just a cosmetic one — the misalignment can make ordinary shoes uncomfortable and change the way weight moves across your foot with every step. Dr. Feldman treats bunions and a range of other foot deformities for patients in Bethesda and Germantown, using minimally invasive techniques where they’re a good fit — smaller incisions than traditional open surgery, aimed at less post-operative pain and a shorter path back to normal shoes.

Surgery is usually considered once a bunion causes real limits — pain that changes how you walk, swelling that doesn’t settle, or a toe that’s stiffened or drifted enough to crowd the toes beside it. Patients who’ve tried wider shoes, padding, or orthotics without lasting relief are often good candidates. Minimally invasive bunion surgery isn’t the right approach for every foot; the degree of deformity and the health of the surrounding bone and soft tissue determine whether it’s an option.

Dr. Feldman evaluates the bunion with a physical exam and standing X-rays, which show how the bones have shifted and guide the surgical plan. Many bunion procedures are done as same-day outpatient surgery. Recovery involves protected weight-bearing in a surgical shoe or boot, with a gradual return to regular footwear over several weeks. He’ll walk you through the specific plan and timeline for your foot before you decide anything.