Foot & Ankle Surgery in Houston, TX
Medically reviewed by Douglas Hansen, DPM, board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
Lasting surgical correction for bunions, hammer toes, flat feet and Achilles injuries, from a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon near Memorial City.
When Foot or Ankle Pain Needs a Structural Fix
When foot or ankle pain keeps coming back after orthotics, better shoes, physical therapy or injections, the problem is usually structural: a bone out of alignment, a joint worn down by arthritis, or a tendon that can no longer do its job. At Valhalla Foot & Ankle Specialists, Dr. Douglas Hansen provides foot and ankle surgery in Houston for patients who have run out of conservative options and want a lasting fix.
Our clinic at 915 Gessner Rd, near Memorial City, serves patients across Houston: Memorial, Spring Branch, Tanglewood, the Energy Corridor and beyond.
Conservative Care First, Surgery When It's the Right Answer
Most foot and ankle problems never need an operation. We start with the least invasive treatment that can work: custom orthotics made from a 3D scan of your foot, footwear changes, padding, physical therapy and activity changes. Surgery comes up when those measures have been given a fair trial and pain still limits your walking, work or exercise, or when a deformity is getting worse.
When surgery is the right answer, we plan it around your anatomy, your activity level and your recovery goals. There is no one-size-fits-all procedure.
Foot and Ankle Procedures We Perform
Bunion Surgery
Bunions are progressive. They don't go away on their own, and orthotics can ease the symptoms but can't reverse the bone deformity. Dr. Hansen offers Lapiplasty® 3D Bunion Correction, which rotates the bone back into its natural position and secures it with titanium plates, plus minimally invasive bunion surgery through incisions often less than a quarter-inch long. Learn more about bunion surgery in Houston →
Hammer Toe Correction
Flexible hammer toes often respond to conservative care. Rigid, painful hammer toes may need surgery to realign the toe, either by releasing and rebalancing the tendons or, in rigid cases, through a joint resection or fusion. Most hammer toe procedures are done on an outpatient basis. Learn more about hammer toe correction →
Flat Foot Reconstruction
Adult flat foot reconstruction is not a single procedure. It is a combination of techniques matched to the foot, such as a calcaneal osteotomy to realign the heel bone, tendon transfers to restore arch support, and fusion of specific joints when arthritis or rigid deformity is present. Learn more about flat foot correction →
Achilles Tendon Repair
For Achilles ruptures and chronic tendon damage that hasn't healed with conservative care, surgical options include gastrocnemius recession to reduce the pull on the tendon, debridement and repair, and tendon transfer when more than half of the Achilles is damaged. Learn more about Achilles tendon treatment →
Reconstructive and Revision Surgery
Dr. Hansen also treats foot trauma and performs reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, including revision of a prior surgery that didn't deliver the result you expected.
Minimally Invasive Foot Surgery
For eligible patients, minimally invasive techniques use very small incisions and specialized instruments. That means less soft-tissue trauma, minimal scarring and, for many patients, a shorter recovery. Not every foot is a candidate. Dr. Hansen will tell you plainly whether a minimally invasive approach or a traditional open procedure will give you the better long-term result.
What to Expect
1. Surgical consultation
We start with a full exam, gait analysis and digital imaging. Dr. Hansen walks you through what's causing your pain, what non-surgical options remain, and which procedure he'd recommend if surgery makes sense. We often use 3D models so you can see exactly what will be corrected.
2. Surgery day
Most foot and ankle procedures are performed as outpatient surgery at a specialized surgical center, so you go home the same day. We typically use local anesthesia with twilight sedation or a regional nerve block. That keeps you comfortable and usually means a quicker recovery from anesthesia than general anesthesia.
3. Recovery
Recovery depends on the procedure. Some patients are in a surgical shoe for a few weeks; larger reconstructions may need 6 to 8 weeks in a cast or boot before gradually returning to weight-bearing. Every surgical patient gets a personalized recovery plan and a home exercise program, and we see you at every stage until you're back to the activities you care about.
Why Choose Dr. Douglas Hansen
- Board certified by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
- Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University
- Three-year surgical residency at Kingwood Medical Center, where he served as chief resident
- Experienced in structural deformity correction, reconstructive surgery and revision surgery
For independent patient information on foot and ankle surgery, see the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons' FootHealthFacts.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need foot or ankle surgery?
Surgery is usually considered when pain continues despite months of conservative treatment, when a deformity is getting worse, or when an injury such as an Achilles rupture needs repair. The best way to know is a surgical consultation, where we review your imaging and history and explain every option, including non-surgical ones.
Is foot surgery done in the hospital?
Most of the procedures we perform are outpatient surgeries at a specialized surgical center, so you go home the same day.
What kind of anesthesia is used?
We typically use local anesthesia with twilight sedation (MAC) or a regional nerve block, which keeps you comfortable and allows a quicker, easier recovery than general anesthesia.
How long is recovery after foot surgery?
It depends on the procedure. Hammer toe patients typically recover initially in 4 to 6 weeks; larger reconstructions can involve 6 to 8 weeks in a cast or boot followed by physical therapy. Dr. Hansen will give you a specific timeline before surgery.
Will insurance cover my surgery?
Surgery to correct a deformity or injury that causes pain and limits function is generally covered by most major insurance plans. Our team will help verify your coverage before scheduling.
Schedule a Surgical Consultation in Houston
If foot or ankle pain is keeping you from the life you want, let's find out whether surgery is the right step.
Request a Surgical Consultation915 Gessner Rd, Suite 650, Houston TX 77024 · (832) 668-5546
Location
915 Gessner Rd. Ste 650
Houston, TX, 77024
Follow Us
Discover compassionate and personalized foot and ankle care at Valhalla Foot & Ankle Specialists. Led by Dr. Douglas Hansen, our Houston-based practice offers expert treatment for various conditions.
832-668-5546
915 Gessner Rd. Ste 650
Houston, TX, 77024
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
© Copyright 2026. Valhalla Foot & Ankle Specialists, PLLC. All rights reserved. | Sitemap
Follow Us
Discover compassionate and personalized foot and ankle care at Valhalla Foot & Ankle Specialists. Led by Dr. Douglas Hansen, our Houston-based practice offers expert treatment for various conditions.
832-668-5546
915 Gessner Rd. Ste 650
Houston, TX, 77024
Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
© Copyright 2026. Valhalla Foot & Ankle Specialists, PLLC. All rights reserved.