Are Pain Pumps for TT Recovery Really Worth the Extra Cost?

Are pain pumps for TT recovery really worth the extra cost?

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22 Doctor Answers | Asked by JoBibbi

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Are pain pumps worth the extra cost?

This is an excellent question. There is quite a diversity of opinions concerning this and some studies report that they do not seem to be effective. In my experience I have mixed results as well. I do discuss this with my patients and use it if they wish. Currently I prefer to use a long acting local anesthesia (bupivicaine) combined with narcotics. There is a new drug combination coming out next year that will considerably extend the length of time that... more

Pain pump.

It depends on your pain tolerance. I advise them, but it is your choice. A lot of patients state " I didn't think it was working until it ran out, then I realized what it was doing.".

Pain pumps and tummy tucks

Thank you for your question. In my practice, I encourage the use of the pain pump after tummy tuck. It is very good for individuals who have a low tolerance for discomfort and/or have a sensitivity to narcotic pain medication. It can make your recovery for the first 3 days much smoother and would consider it worth it. Talk to your surgeon about it and see what he/she thinks. Best of Luck.

Are pain pumps worth the cost?

I have found that pain pumps are quite worth the extra expense. I use them only for tummy tucks and have found that patients use less narcotic pain medicine and therefore feel better and are more active after surgery. I feel that this helps in a quicker recovery. By the time the pain pump runs out in about 4-5 days, the initial pain has receded substantially and frequently the need for narcotics is just about finished.

Pain pumps or not for tummy tucks

I personally don't use pain pumps, just narcotic medicines and muscle relaxants. With good patient selection also, we have not seen the need for the extra expense and the patients all do fine.

Pain Pump for Tummy Tuck Patients

Thank you for your question. You will find that each surgeon has his/her routine. I personally use the pain pump for each one of my tummy tuck patients - at no extre charge. Patients have told me that they are happy that they had the pain pump for their recovery. The tummy tuck surgery involves a relatively rough recovery and I believe that the pain pump is very helpful for the first 3-4 days of recovery (which are normally the most difficult). I hope this helps. more

Pain Pumps after Tummy Tuck --YES

I have been performing Tummy Tucks for 25 years. For a long time we did not have the option to use pain pumps. However, for the past 6+ years I highly recommend them to all of my Tummy Tuck Patients. I see a huge difference in how quickly patients recover. In summary , pain pumps: decrease pain decrease nausea speed up recovery I think they are great. Ricardo L Rodriguez MD Baltimore, Maryland more

Pain pumps

I do not use pain pumps and my patients usually are up and about the next day.Usually the pain pills I prescribe are adequate to control the post op pain.

Pain pumps and tummy tucks.

I prefer to use pain pumps in cases of significant diastasis recti and have found that my patients due benefit from them. In my practice, there is no additional cost for the use of a pain pump, however some offices will itemize these pumps within the cost of surgery. I do find that patients tend to use less pain pills when they have the pump, are up and moving quicker, and tend to recover in less time.

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Pain pumps and tummy tucks

I find that the patients who use pain pumps have a slightly faster (a few days to even a week or more) return to normal activity and wean from narcotic pills faster than those who do not use the pumps. There is some promise on the horizon for long acting local anesthetic agents to possibly substitute for pain pumps, but for now, I usually recommend them. Good luck!