Working on a college campus requires Gloria to walk across the campus throughout her workday. And, at home, the mother of three finds herself running after her eighteen-month-old. The 45-year-old Bradenton, Florida resident shared, “every night my feet would be really sore after ten-hour days.” Her foot was often “throbbing.”

Gloria had a bunion; a bone deformity caused by an unstable joint that allows the big toe to drift out of alignment and progressively worsen over time. Although known for wearing high heels, she sadly realized “there were certain ones I could no longer wear.” Not only did she find her bunion “so ugly” but she explains as a parent who drives her children everywhere, she “couldn’t sit with my feet up” and resorted to learning to deal with the level of pain she was in.

Having a bunion was also becoming a costly problem for Gloria. “The bunion would rub through the heels I wore. And my heels were crooked because of how I was walking,” she says. Gloria opted to wear more comfortable shoes to walk across campus. “It was always bad, but it got worse. I dealt with the pain for years, but finally I had to opt for a surgical correction.”

Once Gloria decided to do something about her worsening foot pain, she began researching online, reading reviews, and ended up connecting with Dr. Lisa Limon at Limon Foot & Ankle Care of Bradenton. After x-rays and a consultation, Dr. Limon gave Gloria an educational brochure about Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ and explained the difference between a traditional 2D bunionectomy and the Lapiplasty® Procedure. She also suggested Gloria watch the videos on the Treace website. “Dr. Limon told me the Lapiplasty® Procedure would correct the bunion at the foundation and, unlike traditional bunion surgery, Lapiplasty® [3D Bunion Correction^™] isn’t a Band-Aid® approach which can allow the bunion to come back.”

In June, Gloria underwent the Lapiplasty® Procedure on her left foot at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton. “The first four days after the surgery were painful. I took pain medication. But 13 days after surgery, I was walking in a boot without the help of a cane or crutch.” Gloria had a great support network from her children and husband and, additionally, other people stepped in when her husband wasn’t available. Seven weeks after surgery, Gloria was out of the walking boot and back in sneakers.

She recently went hiking with her husband and continues to run after her eighteen-month-old. “The healed incision looks awesome – it doesn’t look like I’ve had surgery on my foot.” Now, Gloria is scheduled to have the Lapiplasty® Procedure on her right foot in December.

When she hears someone has a bunion, Gloria tells them about Lapiplasty® [3D Bunion Correction^™]. “I tell them the difference in the quality of life and how Lapiplasty® [3D Bunion Correction^™] is better than traditional bunion surgery.”

Only a surgeon can tell if Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction^™ is right for you. As with any medical treatment, individual results may vary and this experience is unique and specific to this patient only. There are potential risks with surgery and recovery takes time. Potential risks include, but are not limited to: infection, discomfort from the presence of the implant, loosening of the implant, and loss of correction with nonunion or malunion.

Band-Aid® is a registered mark of Johnson & Johnson.