Bunion Surgery Abroad
If you're living with the discomfort of a bunion and facing long NHS delays or high private fees, bunion surgery abroad is one option.
Home › Orthopaedics › Bunion Surgery Abroad
What happens, step by step
Anaesthesia
Most often performed under spinal or general anaesthetic
Surgery Time
Typically takes 45 to 90 minutes
Procedure
The surgeon realigns the affected bones in your foot and removes the bony bump on the joint
Stabilisation
Surgical screws or pins may be used to hold bones in place during healing
Hospital Stay
Usually 1 to 2 nights, depending on recovery and travel plans
Bunion correction is usually carried out by orthopaedic surgeons who specialise in foot and ankle procedures. Modern techniques aim to reduce pain, improve alignment and speed up recovery.
Experience varies between surgeons, so ask how many bunion operations yours carries out each year.
Bunion Surgery Cost Comparison: UK vs Europe
Ask us about an operation abroad, free
Tell us what you're looking into. We send your enquiry to relevant, pre-vetted clinics, and up to 3 that can help contact you directly.
Thera is free for patients. No clinic can pay to change the prices we publish.
What Recovery Looks Like After Bunion Surgery
Week 1: Rest, elevate foot, wound care, light walking
Weeks 2–4: Stitches removed, protected walking in boot
Weeks 4–8: Start physiotherapy, increase activity gradually
3–6 Months: Comfortable walking, reduced swelling
Recovery varies by patient. Most of it happens at home, so ask the clinic whether it offers video follow-up and who to contact if you have a concern.
Where Do UK Patients Go for Bunion Surgery?
Common destinations for UK patients include:
Kaunas, Lithuania
- Orthopaedic centres and short flights from the UK
Kraków, Poland
- Private surgical clinics, many with English-speaking staff
Izmir, Turkey
- Lower-cost options, with coastal hotels nearby for recovery
Standards differ from clinic to clinic within each country, so check the individual clinic and surgeon. You can browse clinics by country.
Is Bunion Surgery Overseas Safe?
Bunion surgery is a common operation, and it is generally low-risk when done at a regulated, accredited clinic. Whether a particular clinic meets that bar is something to check yourself:
- Is the clinic on its country's official register, and does it hold the accreditation it claims, such as ISO?
- Who is the surgeon, are they on the professional register, and how much foot surgery do they do?
- Will the clinic assess you before you travel to confirm you are fit for surgery?
- What written aftercare instructions will you get, and who do you contact once home?
Thera Travel never recommends a clinic.
Can I Pay With Finance?
Some clinics offer payment plans, and some UK lenders offer loans for treatment. Thera Travel does not arrange finance, so compare the terms carefully.
What’s Included In The Price?
Many clinic prices include surgery, tests, physio and a hospital stay, but not all do. Ask for an itemised quote in writing.
How Quickly Can You Be Treated?
Clinics abroad often offer bunion surgery within about two weeks, though this varies by clinic and surgeon.
How to Check a Clinic Before You Book
- Look up the clinic on its country's official register, under the legal name on your quote
- Get your surgeon's name in writing and check their professional register
- Read the reviews, including the low-rated ones, and check the Google listing belongs to the actual clinic
- Ask for an itemised written quote showing what is and isn't included
- Ask what happens if something goes wrong once you are back home
The 15 questions to ask a clinic cover the rest.
Related Guides
What it costs: Bunion surgery cost in the UK
Clinics UK patients look at
The four with the most Google reviews among the orthopaedic clinics we hold. Each has a free page with its records.
Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai
KIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, Begumpet
Yashoda Hospitals, Somajiguda
Yashoda Hospitals, Malakpet