Minimally invasive foot surgery, through 2 mm portals.
MICA bunion correction and percutaneous lesser-toe work, done by a BOFAS foot and ankle surgeon - with the burr, the fluoroscopy and the honest conversation about whether open surgery would suit your foot better.
Indicative pricing
What private MIS foot surgery costs in the UK.
Indicative ranges across UK private providers.
In short
£4,500–£8,000, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICA bunion (unilateral) + Akin | £4,500–£8,000 | 45–60 min | Day-case |
| MICA bunion (bilateral) + Akin | £8,000–£14,000 | 75–90 min | Day-case |
| MIS 5th metatarsal (bunionette) | £3,500–£6,000 | 30–45 min | Day-case |
| MIS Weil osteotomy (per lesser toe) | £1,800–£3,200 | 20–30 min | Day-case |
| MIS hammer / claw toe correction | £1,500–£2,800 | 20–30 min | Day-case |
| Weight-bearing X-ray + consultation | £350–£600 | 45 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which foot and ankle surgeon does the case, by the anaesthetic chosen, and by whether an Akin or lesser-toe work is added at the same sitting.
The problem
The right technique, on the right foot, by the right surgeon.
Minimally invasive foot surgery is brilliant for the right deformity in trained hands - and mediocre for the wrong deformity in untrained ones.
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Not sure MICA is right?
Some bunions need an open scarf or Lapidus. We say so before you agree to a percutaneous fix.
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Worried about the recovery?
Full weight-bearing in a post-op sandal, day one - and honest timelines for swelling, driving and running.
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Want it done properly?
A named BOFAS consultant, a dedicated MIS burr set and fluoroscopy in a proper day-case theatre.
When it helps
When minimally invasive foot surgery is the right step.
The deformities that respond best to MIS, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Painful bunion (hallux valgus)
A prominent bump at the base of the big toe that hurts in shoes, with the toe drifting toward the second - the classic MICA candidate.
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Tailor’s bunion (bunionette)
A tender bump on the outside of the foot at the base of the little toe - treated with a percutaneous 5th metatarsal osteotomy.
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Metatarsalgia under lesser toes
Burning or bruised pain under the 2nd–4th metatarsal heads - a percutaneous Weil osteotomy shortens and lifts the head to offload it.
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Hallux valgus interphalangeus
Big-toe deformity within the toe itself rather than at the joint - corrected with a percutaneous Akin, often alongside a MICA.
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Hammer or claw toe
A lesser toe fixed in a bent position, catching on shoes - released and straightened through 2 mm portals.
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Small scars, quick return to shoes
When cosmesis and getting back into normal shoes at 6–8 weeks matter - MIS delivers both in appropriate deformity.
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Flatfoot or cavus needing calcaneal osteotomy
Selected hindfoot deformity can be treated with a percutaneous calcaneal osteotomy - specialist territory, and only for the right foot.
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Red flag: hot, red, spreading foot
A hot, red, spreading foot with fever after any surgery is not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Procedure options
MIS is a family - not a single operation.
What each percutaneous procedure actually involves - and which fits which problem in the foot.
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MICA bunion (Minimally Invasive Chevron Akin)
Percutaneous first metatarsal chevron plus proximal-phalanx Akin, fixed with headless screws. The modern MIS answer to mild-to-moderate hallux valgus.
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MIS 5th metatarsal osteotomy
Percutaneous correction of a tailor’s bunion (bunionette) on the outside of the foot. Small portals, screw fixation, immediate weight-bearing.
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MIS Weil osteotomy (2nd–4th metatarsal)
Shortens and elevates a lesser metatarsal head through a percutaneous cut - the workhorse for lesser metatarsalgia.
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MIS Akin osteotomy
A wedge cut of the proximal phalanx to correct hallux valgus interphalangeus. Often combined with a MICA to finish the correction.
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MIS hammer / claw toe correction
Percutaneous PIPJ osteotomy or arthroplasty to straighten a fixed lesser toe. Quick, low-morbidity, back in a sandal same-day.
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MIS calcaneal osteotomy
Percutaneous hindfoot cut for selected flatfoot or cavus deformity. Specialist work, and only for the right foot.
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MIS gastrocnemius recession
Endoscopic release of a tight calf that is loading the forefoot. Small portals, out of a boot within weeks.
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MIS fasciotomy for plantar fasciitis
Percutaneous release when heel pain has failed every conservative measure. Most plantar fasciitis does not need surgery - we say so if it applies to you.
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards - honestly.
MIS foot surgery is a safe day-case operation in the right hands, with published outcomes comparable to open scarf and chevron. The things worth planning are elevation, shoe-wear timelines and the swelling curve.
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Full weight-bearing in a post-op sandal, day one
You walk on the heel in a flat Darco shoe from the moment you leave the theatre. No plaster, no crutches for most patients.
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Swelling is the honest headline
The foot swells for 6–12 weeks, worst in the first 2–4. Elevation and a compression sock are your main jobs; it is not a complication, it is the healing.
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Back to normal shoes at 6–12 weeks
Wider trainers first, then regular shoes. High heels and narrow fashion shoes wait 3–6 months, and some feet never go back to them.
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Driving at 3–6 weeks
Right foot: usually 6 weeks. Left foot in an automatic: often 2–3 weeks. Your surgeon signs it off based on emergency-stop confidence.
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Sport at 3–6 months
Cycling and swimming come back first, running and racquet sports much later. The final cosmetic and functional result lands at 6–12 months.
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Recurrence and undercorrection
Around 5–10% of bunions recur or under-correct - a little higher for MICA in severe deformity than open scarf. We are honest about this before you commit.
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Transient numbness of the first webspace
A small branch of the deep peroneal nerve runs nearby and can bruise. Numbness between the big and second toes usually settles within months.
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Rare but real: infection, malunion, screw pain
Superficial infection is uncommon and treated with antibiotics; deep infection is rarer still. A prominent screw can be removed under LA at 12 months if it grumbles.
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Red flags
Fever, spreading redness, calf pain and swelling, or heavy bleeding after surgery are not normal - call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever percutaneous technique was used, the note the surgeon sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly - we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Deformity, angles and method chosen
Why the procedure was done - HVA, IMA, associated lesser-toe deformity - and which technique (MICA, MIS Weil, calcaneal) was agreed with you.
- 02 Technique
Anaesthetic and MIS technique
Whether it was done under LA plus sedation or GA, the number and size of portals, the burr used, and the screw fixation applied.
- 03 Findings
Intra-operative correction and fixation
Notes on the achieved correction under fluoroscopy, translation of the metatarsal head, Akin wedge if performed, and any incidental findings.
- 04 Impression
Weight-bearing, shoe wear, review timing
Read this first: post-op sandal protocol, when you return to normal shoes, driving and sport, and when the 2- and 6-week reviews are booked.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Most insurers cover MIS bunion and lesser-toe procedures when the deformity is symptomatic - cosmetic-only cases are self-pay.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about MIS foot surgery.
Quick answers on MICA vs open, pain, cost, driving and when you get back into normal shoes.
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What is minimally invasive foot surgery?
It is a family of percutaneous foot operations done through 2–4 mm portals with a specialist high-speed burr and fluoroscopic (live X-ray) guidance. The bones are cut and repositioned without opening the foot, and headless screws hold the correction. It is a real operation - just delivered through much smaller wounds than open surgery.
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Is MICA better than an open scarf bunion?
For mild-to-moderate bunions in trained hands, MICA gives comparable radiographic correction to open scarf and chevron at one to two years, with smaller scars, less soft-tissue disruption and a faster return to shoes. For very severe deformity (HVA above 40°, IMA above 18°), an experienced surgeon may still prefer an open scarf or Lapidus.
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Does it hurt afterwards?
The first 48–72 hours are the sore period, controlled with paracetamol, an anti-inflammatory if allowed, and a short course of stronger painkillers. Because there is less soft-tissue trauma than open surgery, most patients say the pain is easier than they expected - the swelling is the bigger nuisance.
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When can I walk on it?
Immediately. You leave the theatre full weight-bearing on the heel in a flat post-op sandal (Darco shoe) and wear it for around six weeks. Elevation for the first two weeks is more important than staying off it.
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When can I drive?
Left foot in an automatic: often within 2–3 weeks. Right foot, or a manual: usually around six weeks, when you can perform a confident emergency stop in a normal shoe. Your surgeon signs it off.
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When can I go back to normal shoes and to running?
Wider trainers at 6–8 weeks, regular shoes 6–12 weeks. Cycling and swimming from about 6 weeks; running and racquet sports typically 3–6 months. High heels wait 3–6 months and some feet never return to narrow fashion shoes.
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What does private minimally invasive foot surgery cost in the UK?
Roughly £4,500–£8,000 for a unilateral MICA plus Akin, and £8,000–£14,000 for both feet at the same sitting. A bunionette is £3,500–£6,000, a MIS Weil £1,800–£3,200 per toe, and a hammer-toe correction £1,500–£2,800.
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Does the NHS do MIS bunion surgery?
Some NHS units offer MICA, but availability is patchy and waiting lists are long. Most patients coming to us privately want a named BOFAS surgeon, a chosen date, and a faster route through - none of which the NHS can promise.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Foot and ankle surgery
Open and arthroscopic options across the foot and ankle.
Learn more -
Flat feet surgery
Reconstructive and hindfoot options for adult flatfoot.
Learn more -
All tests & procedures
Every test and procedure we cover.
Learn more