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Are Exparel Injections Used Only for Drainless Tt, and if So, Why Not Used for Regular Tt?

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Exparel technique

18 Doctor Answers | Asked by chris59

Doctor Answers (18)
Community Comments (1)

Exparel for post op pain control

Exparel is a new long acting formulation of a local anesthetic. It can be used after many kinds of surgery including cosmetic surgery to provide pain relief. As it is still new, we are all learning where it can be most helpful. Ask your doctor about using it for your surgery. The use of a drain should not affect the use of Exparel. Good luck to you.

Exparel for tummy tucks

Exparel (liposomal delivered bupivicaine or marcaine) is a fantastic new "tool" that has improved post operative pain control after abominoplasty or tummy tuck. I use this routinely in all my tummy tuck cases and have found that patients are able to go home as an outpatient and they require far less narcotic after surgery. I am not sure where the notion of "drainless" tummy tuck or regular tummy tuck has anything to do with exparel. Exparel works best if it is injected under the... more

Exparel for Abdominoplasty

Thank you for the question. Exparel is a local anesthetic (bupivacaine) that is encased in a liposome to act as a slow release mechanism, that can give up to 72 hours of relief when injected into the muscles and tissue. There is no reason why it cannot be used for post operative analgesia in an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or other procedures. This is a discussion best had with your chosen surgeon. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

Exparel for Pain Relief

Exparel is a long-acting formulation of a commonly used local anesthetic (bupivicaine). It became available for use last year and I have been using it reguarly with both breast and body surgery with very good results.Patients have been very satisfied and are experiencing pain control similar to with the pain pump systems. Since the medication is injected into the muscle layer, it can be used in all types of tummy tucks and other cosmetic surgery, especially breast surgery. I encourage... more

Use of Exparel in Tummy Tucks

Dear chris59, Exparel is a sustained release version of a commonly used local anesthestic called bupivacaine. It may be used with all types of tummy tucks (eg. with or without drains), as well as other types of surgery including breast augmentation, etc. Hope this helps. Warmest wishes, Larry Fan, MD

Exparel

Exparel is a time released form of the long acting local anesthetic Bupivicaine. When used with drains, the drains will just suck it out, defeating its purpose. There is no evidence that it is effective in tummy tucks and has only been used for a short period of time. The main problem is that it is really expensive. Find out how much you will be charged for it. I doubt it is being used free of charge unless you are in a study.

Exparel use in drainless tummy tuck

Exparel can be used in any type of cosmetic surgery. Specifically for tummy tucks, it does not matter if drains are placed or not. Exparel is injected into the muscles and tissue, so the drains should not remove the medication.

Exparel is an good adjunct for post op pain control

Exparel is a long-acting local anesthetic that can be infiltrated into the tissues during a tummy tuck. The medication can be used for any sort of tummy tuck procedure in addition to breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures. The use of drains in abdominoplasty is still relatively common. The use of drains has nothing to do with the use of Exparel.

Use of Exparel in tummy tuck surgery

The usual cause for pain after a tummy tuck is the row of sutures down the middle which ties the two main abdominal muscles together. During pregnancy, with major weight gain or sometimes just naturally, those muscles spread apart. Virtually all tummy tucks include suturing of those muscles together -- and it is the pull of the muscles against the sutures which causes pain for the first few days after surgery. Exparel is a terrific, long-lasting (3 days) local... more

Exparel and Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Exparel can be used for for patients undergoing tummy tuck surgery with or without the use of drains. This medication is a longer-lasting version of the already widely used medication Bupivacaine; it allows for pain control for up to 72 hours. I hope this helps.

Exparel can be used with or without a drain

Exparel is a long lasting local anesthetic that decreases pain after surgery. It can be used with or without drains. As far as it being too costly to use with abdominoplasty, that is just silly. It doesn't cost much more than a pain pump and in my opinion works light years better. Lots of things in surgery are expensive and while this one is "an option" in my opinion less pain is always good. Read the below blog entry that I wrote in August discussing this... more

Exparel and Drains in a Tummy Tuck

Dear Chris59, Exparel can be used in tummy tucks with or without drains. The advantage is potentially three days of increased pain relief. The disadvantage...Exparel is expensive and adds too much cost for some patients. We offer it as an option for our patients. Hope this helps.

Exparel and Tummy Tuck

Exparel is a long acting local anesthetic that can be used with or without drains in a tummy tuck. It can be costly but if you are interested, it is something that you should request from your surgeon.

Exparel and Progressive Tension Suture tummy tuck

The short answer is Exparel can be used with any type of tummy tuck, and has been very helpful in reducing post-operative discomfort for up to 3 days (when usually you begin to feel better anyway.) Theoretically, the use of drains might pull some of the Exparel out, but that does not seem to be the case. Either way. the "drianless tummy tuck" is one version of the pregressive tension suture method, which I have been using for 15 years. I still think mdrains are useful but they can be removed... more

Use of Exparel

You can use Exparel whether you use drain or no drain for TT. Using long acting pain relieve and continues pain catheter are ways to help with reducing initial postop pain and discomfort. Use of drain is for suctioning out blood and fluids which can accumulate right after surgery. You can have it either way. Make sure talk to your surgeon about it prior to your surgery. Best Wishes,

Exparel Injections in Tummy Tuck Surgery

Exparel can be used in any type of tummy tuck whether drains are used or not. It is injected into the tissues and the muscles and will be effective regardless if the abdominal space is drained.

Exparel and Tummy Tucks

Exparel may be injected at the time of closure to help with postoperative pain relief. With regard to how much of this stays confined to the area and how much migrates I am not sure. This would be a theoretical reason why it may not be used when drains are in place. Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

Exparel Injection

Exparel can be used with or without drains. It is an ultralong duration local anesthetic ( 3 days), and is injected into the tissues and is not suctioned out by the drains. It is used in many types of surgery in addition to tummy tucks, again both with and without drains. All the best.