I live in the UK and after seeing a physiotherapist/consultant and talking through all my available options...

make sure your surgeon actually does MIS. have them show diagrams and pics of what theyre actually doinh

I had both feet done by MIS and have an excellent result. As long as you have a good surgeon experienced in MIS you’ll be fine.

I have been in practice for over 40 years at FootFirst.com. I mention that not as a statement of age, but as a reflection of experience. Over four decades, I have seen the evolution of bunion surgery in many forms. My own procedure, the Sklar Bunionectomy, has evolved significantly over the years. It has taken decades of refinement, study, and hands-on surgical experience to achieve consistently strong structural and cosmetic results. Surgical mastery does not happen quickly — it is developed through repetition, analysis, and long-term follow-up. In recent years, minimally invasive (MIS) bunion procedures have gained popularity. While innovation is important and welcome in our field, it is also important to recognize that these techniques are still relatively new for many surgeons. There is a learning curve. What concerns me most is not simply radiographic correction, but the overall outcome — particularly the cosmetic result. The foot is both functional and visible. Patients care deeply about appearance. Unfortunately, on social media and in various forums, I frequently observe significant inconsistency in MIS outcomes. One recurring issue I see is shortening of the hallux. While it may be biomechanically acceptable in some cases, cosmetically it can be quite disappointing for patients. As surgeons, our responsibility extends beyond correction of angles. We must preserve length, alignment, function, and appearance. Innovation is valuable — but consistency, predictability, and long-term results matter most. Experience still counts.

I had 2 x lapidus procedures done as close together as possible. It went well and I was able to bounce back to big hikes within 6 months and took up running a few months after. I'd lean towards trusting an orthopedic surgeon over a physio for surgical advice. Can't comment much on MIS surgery itself and I'd never had it, but a good surgeon will assess your situation and recommend appropriate surgery method.

NIH reports state there is no difference in relapse IF the doctor has experience. MIS is much harder to do. Second, keep in mind that MIS costs less money. Lapidus has a high markup, and other invasive procedures that involve an incision also bill for more. And you may require a second surgery to remove hardware. I can't speak to those posting from other countries because the doctors may bill in a different manner. There are also fewer complications from MIS (just because it uses keyhole incisions) which lowers your medical bill. MIS really does require more experience so vet your doctor well and read the reviews. Just speaking from the posts I see here, 90% of the complaints and terrifying pictures are not from MIS procedures. That's just an observation , not a fact. My doctor told me that MIS does not fit all. He does use other procedures for hyper mobile feet and complex situations.

I had MIS on January 23. The first surgeon I saw that advertised MIS said he would shave my bunion and fuse my big toe. When I saw my x-rays, I knew this procedure would not fix my problem. My bones were not even in the socket! How was shaving going to fix that?? Anyways, after further research I found a board certified orthopaedic surgeon in sports medicine/arthroscopic surgery and foot and ankle surgery. He was using new technology using a biointegrative screw that binds with your bone and never needs removal. So I had the surgery and literally walked out of the surgical center in a walking "boot" and told to walk as tolerated. He straightened my bunion and my "claw" toes with tiny incisions using the arthrex bunionectomy procedure; and for me, there was no pain. I don't know if this is available in the UK, but I am extremely happy at this point.

I thought I was getting MIS and I got a regular chevron akin osteotomy - when I asked why not MIS (I was upset) he said that mine was moderate and that he preferred to put one screw in, as if you do MIS you put two screws in; however, upon research, I found that more recently (not sure how recent) they came out with a way to perform MIS using one screw only. So, I have a feeling my doctor was not up to speed on the new innovation of using one screw for MIS, and or if he was aware, he wasn't so familiar with it so just went the traditional route and way he has performed them all along. I was not happy, but on xray all looks quite good. I did see studies comparing a regular osteotomy to a MIS and both have almost the exact same rate of success, just the regular takes a little longer to heal.

I have had it done ( IN Vancouver BC Canada). Much less painful than I was expecting but I followed the orders exactly. Week one, ice 20 minutes each hour, up only to go to the bathroom rest of time foot is elevated above heart. Week two up 5 minutes three times a day to do meals. Ice 3 - 4 times a day. PM me if you have more questions.

I’m in the uk and having mine done on Saturday one foot worse than the other and my surgeon said an MIS is in his words are hit and miss and they can actually come back

My doctor used to perform MIS and switched to lapidus. I asked why he switched. He said he was never happy with the results.

I am in the UK and due to have MIS in May this year. After a lot of research, I have found that it is imperative that the surgeon you choose is very experienced in MIS. You should check out www.thebuniondoctor.com, Mr David Gordon. He holds free webinars where you can ask questions, etc. Hope this helps.