"They broke my first metatarsal in my foot to lower my arch, and so there's less pressure on my big toe, which is what was giving me the problems.
"And they took a millimetre out of the bone so I could have some more range in my plantar fascia, which is going to release the toe. Now it's feeling a lot better, and through a lot of rehab and a lot of people helping me through that process, it's come good, which has been great."
Bell found support in a small group of front-row friends and rivals, who have also experienced toe injuries. Texts and conversations have bounced across the Tasman with All Blacks Fletcher Newell, Joe Moody and George Bell.
"We had a little toe community there, which was good," Bell said. "We play rugby but we're all humans. It was good to chat to those guys and I had really good chats with Joe Moody. He also had toe issues as well and he had that sorted out. He helped me when I needed some help. I did lean on Joe quite a lot."
Bell returned for the Wallabies under new coach Joe Schmidt in August and started at loosehead prop in eight Tests - none better than a barnstorming showing in Australia's win over England at Twickenham on the spring tour.
But after wearing the No.1 jersey with distinction for both Australia and NSW for several years, Schmidt had different plans in 2025. He put Bell on the bench against Fiji and has continued to deploy the 24-year-old as a finishing weapon through the Lions series, and the Rugby Championship.
It has proved an inspired selection call.
Bell has become a one-man bomb squad for the Wallabies, making game-turning impact when deployed in second halves.
Compared to games he started last year, stats show Bell's output off the bench is considerably greater across most markers, despite having played 22 fewer minutes on average. Bell's bench impact, in combination with the likes of Jeremy Williams and Tate McDermott, has helped the Wallabies power home late in games.
But having been driven to be the No.1 all his life - figuratively and jersey-wise - Bell admits it took some adjustment to get used to being a No.17.
"There are certain things in sport where you definitely have to leave your ego at the door," Bell said.
"Of course, as a rugby player, you always want to start. That's the dream and that's the goal.
"But my thought on it now is that if you are picked in the team in the 23 for Australia, that's a massive honour and a massive privilege. I play a half of footy anyway. It's been different, definitely. But I understand what I need to do for the team.
"I've expressed to Joe and [scrum coach] Mike Cron about where my ambitions are, personally, and that's to be the best loosehead in the world.
"If I can do that this year, coming off the bench and doing a job for Australia and making sure that Australia are the best team in the world, then I'll do that. I'm happy to do that. And as long as we're winning, I'm definitely happy."
Modern coaches have stressed to media and fans - and no doubt players, too - that the hierarchy of starters and "finishers" is a dated concept, and bench players are equally as important in the pursuit of victory.
But it wasn't until South Africa's use of the famed "Bomb Squad" from their bench helped them win World Cups that perceptions genuinely shifted.
You ask Bell if South Africa have changed things to the point that the world's best player in a position can now be found on a bench.
"South Africa have definitely changed the whole perspective and role of the bench," he says. "You can see Malcolm Marx came off the bench for two years and was widely regarded as one of the best hookers in the world.
"Steven Kitshoff, before he retired, was off the bench. Ox Nche was off the bench quite a lot.
"Nowadays, when guys are a lot bigger, a lot stronger, and then you've got the whole front-row sub off the bench, it's definitely a weapon. And I guess what we've done over the past couple of weeks in adding value when we come on, that's super important.
"I don't think it really matters what number you wear.
"If you can be the best in the world, you can do it from any position on the field or in a team.
"It doesn't matter if you're wearing No.23 or No.1."