Procedure prep
Fasting Before Bunion Surgery
Bunion surgery straightens the big-toe joint, usually as day surgery under a general anesthetic or an ankle block. It's the recovery — a special shoe, keeping the foot up, and limited walking for weeks — that's worth planning for in advance.
Fasting for this procedure
→ Get your exact fasting times with the calculator
Medicines to check
- Blood thinners (aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto) — see medications to stop.
- Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) before surgery unless your team approves — they can increase bleeding.
- Diabetes medicines & insulin need a fasting-day plan, and good control helps the foot heal. See diabetes tablets.
- Blood pressure medicines — confirm which to take with a sip of water.
When this surgery may be delayed
- Any skin break, sore, blister or infection on the foot or toe
- Fever, a new cough/cold, or a chest infection
- Very high blood pressure or blood sugar
- Swelling or a new problem with the foot since your assessment
- You ate or drank outside your fasting window
Reports & documents to carry
- Photo ID and your insurance or hospital paperwork
- A current list of all your medicines, doses, and allergies
- Your foot X-rays and any clinic letters or pre-op tests
- Loose clothing, and the special post-op shoe if you were given one
- A ride home — you can't drive after the anesthetic
What to ask your anesthesia team
- Will I have a general anesthetic, an ankle block, or both?
- Will I be in a special shoe or cast, and for how long?
- How much can I walk and put weight on the foot at first?
- How long until I can drive and return to work?
- Which of my medicines do I take or hold that morning?
Your prep checklist
Tick things off as you sort them — saved on this device only, nothing is sent anywhere.
A general guide — your hospital's own instructions always come first.
Frequently asked questions
How long until I can walk normally after bunion surgery?
You'll usually be able to move around soon after, but often only in a special stiff-soled shoe or boot that protects the toe, sometimes for several weeks. Full recovery — back to normal shoes and activity — commonly takes a few months as the bone heals. Your surgeon will give you specific weight-bearing limits.
Will I have a general anesthetic for a bunion?
Often a general anesthetic is combined with an ankle or regional block that numbs the foot for hours afterward, so you wake with good pain control. Some bunions can be done under the block with sedation. Your anesthetist will discuss the best option for you.
Why keep my foot elevated after surgery?
Keeping the foot raised above hip or heart level for the first days dramatically reduces swelling and throbbing, and helps the wound heal. Plan for time resting with the foot up, and arrange help so you're not on it more than your team advises.