Bunion surgery can be organized into the following general types. More than one type of procedure may be done at a time.

• Removal of part of the metatarsal head (the part of the foot that is bulging out). This procedure is called exostectomy
• Realignment of the soft tissues (ligaments) around the big toe joint
• Removal of a small wedge of bone from the foot (metatarsal osteotomy) or from the toe (phalangeal osteotomy)
• Removal of bone from the end of the big toe and the reshaping of both the big toe and foot bones where they meet at the big toe joint (resection arthroplasty)
• Fusion (arthrodesis) of the big toe joint
• Implant insertion of all or part of an artificial joint