Everyone recovers at different rates, and especially when it comes to pain. We are all "hardwired" differently in our brains and nervous systems, and just like some people are highly sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, strong odors, and other such stimuli, I believe some people are more sensitive to painful stimuli too. And, this doesn't even consider the fact that your specific operation might have needed something different from the usual, or been done in such a way as most people would have slightly more pain with that approach compared to others, anyhow. So, I think there are plenty of plausible reasons why someone may still need some pain medication at 1 week after surgery, and as long as you and your surgeon are keeping track of how much you are being given and how much you're using, it should be fine to get a refill at this point. I think sometimes we surgeons get hooked on the "marketing appeal" of things like "flash recovery" breast augmentation, and surgery without pain, even when Exparel is being used, and we feed that to our patients in an effort to boost market appeal for ourselves or the surgery in general. We lose sight of the fact that this is still surgery at the end of the day, and while many patients may recover "in a flash" and go shopping the next day after surgery, many simply will not. We shouldn't let those who do not feel as though there is something wrong with them, nor should the surgeons let their egos get in the way and think that somehow they aren't the "greatest surgeons out there" because they had a few patients who needed some pain medication. I think if the truth be told, most of us still use some pain medication for most of our patients undergoing this type of surgery, simply because that is what keeps most people comfortable. In addition, there is a big warning coming out from the FDA about using opioid medications to excess, or combining them with sedatives, like Valium - something that I, and most of my colleagues do in this situation, I think, given the nature of the surgery - and that is having an impact on how people think about pain management after surgery now. I believe that used appropriately, with safe doses, sound patient education and instruction, and close monitoring, these medications can still be used in this manner to great benefit of our patients. I have done so for twenty years, and I don't see a reason to change that now based upon my own experience. In reality, most patients have safe outcomes, and most patients recover just fine and go on to enjoy their beautiful results in the long run, even the ones who need a little extra pain medication at the beginning. Best of luck.
