If you’re having minimally invasive bunion surgery soon, you must be wondering what the recovery process will look like. The four-week mark is an important turning point of the healing process – so what to expect 4 weeks after bunion surgery? When will you be able to get back to your everyday life? Read on to find all the answers.
When It Comes to Physical Healing, What Should You Expect?
After bunion surgery, your recovery process will be swift and without much trouble – the only thing that’s important is to rest and follow instructions from your foot doctor for taking care of the wound. The bunion surgery recovery lasts about six weeks, but the 4-week mark is the point at which you’ll feel almost healed. If you had to wear a surgical shoe after the procedure to keep the correction in place, you should be able to take it off after four weeks. You’ll be able to slowly start returning to your regular activities at this point.
How Will Your Scars Look?
If your bunion surgery is a minimally invasive procedure, the incisions your surgeon needs to make will be quite small. This means that there won’t be excessive scarring when you heal, but you’ll still be able to see the scar in the beginning – over time, it will fade away. You can help it fade away faster by applying anti-scarring creams.
Is There a Reduction in Swelling and Bruising?
Swelling and bruising, which come with some level of pain, of course, are normal parts of the recovery period. It’s something that you can expect after any foot surgery, but the good thing is that they will go away soon. Pain will start to gradually decrease after the first week, so by week 4, you likely won’t be in any pain. Swelling and bruising start reducing in the second week, so they won’t be much of a problem after four weeks.
Should You Introduce Physical Therapy Exercises in Your Routine?
Yes, exercises are a great way to speed up your recovery. Doctors often recommend introducing foot exercises two weeks after the surgery – you should start with them slowly. Don’t overwhelm yourself if you don’t feel ready. These exercises are simple, and you can do them multiple times a day at home. Physical therapy with a skilled medical professional is another great way to speed up recovery. Your doctor may recommend you start with it even before the 4-week mark, depending on how well your recovery is going.
What Are Potential Red Flags and Complications You Should Think About?
After the surgery, there’s still the possibility of some complications developing. If the wound doesn’t heal properly, or the surgery wasn’t performed correctly, the deformity may reoccur in the weeks after the procedure. There’s always a chance of an infection occurring, but at the 4-week mark, the incisions will be mostly healed, so if you haven’t gotten an infection so far, you likely won’t have one at all. In rare cases, pain and stiffness can be prolonged. There is also a possibility of nerve damage.
Can You Return to Work After 4 Weeks?
This depends on the nature of your work. If your job is sedentary, you will be more than able to return to work after four weeks – chances are you can even return to work after two weeks. However, if your job requires physical activity, you may have to wait up to three months.
Have a Check-up With Your Foot Doctor in Miami 4 Weeks After Bunion Surgery
Four weeks after bunion surgery, you should have a follow-up appointment with your podiatrist to see if everything is going according to plan. Our doctors at Luxe Foot Surgery clinic can help with your recovery process – contact us to book your appointment.
References
- Cleveland Clinic – Bunion Correction Surgery
- Luxe Foot Surgery – Bunion Surgery
- Luxe Foot Surgery – Minimally Invasive Bunion Surgery In Miami
