Breast Reduction and Pain Pumps?

    The pain pumps may help in the postoperative period, but postoperative pain after breast reduction is not great.  Removing the drains is usually a nonissue because they are very small and slide right out.

I have tried using pain pumps before in one of the most painful plastic surgery procedures, the tummy tuck with muscle repair.  It has been my impression, as well as many others, that they do not do much.  The good news it that a breast reduction is not nearly as painful as it sounds, and you should not even need a pain pump.  I certainly would not use them if you have to pay extra for them as they are about $400 each.

Breast reduction is not usually a very painful procedure so pain pumps are seldom indicated.  Oral meds usually work well.

Dear Lyndsay, Thank you for your question

On average breast reduction is not a painful procedure and oral analgesia is usually sufficient. Patients experience limitation of the movements of the arms for a few days. Therefore the use of pain pumps is not very common. However I am sure that if your surgeon has advised you in this sense, he will explain you the reason beforehand.

Good luck

Every plastic surgeon has his own style and techniques to manage patients after surgery.   I have not had much luck with pain pumps since they just do not seems to deliver enough local anesthesia to the surgical field.  When there is concern about post operative pain then one may consider an intercostal nerve block with a long acting local anesthetic.  

I agree with the other responses in that breast reduction surgery is not too painful and most patients do very well with oral pain medications and are off of them quickly.  I no longer use pain pumps for any procedure as the cost is high and the function is not consistent. They often leak, dislodge or get kinked and stop working.

Thank you for the question. Generally speaking, pain pumps are not used for breast reduction. They can be used for breast augmentation. Following breast reduction surgery, the pain is usually controlled with tablets. You can find information on pain pump online or ask your plastic surgeon.

Actually breast reduction is a common procedure that individuals do quite well with without pain pumps. We complete breast reduction without any hospital stay and without drains. You should do fine as well and ask if you can forgo the pain pump option.

Congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery; this operation tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. Although I do use pain pumps for tummy tuck surgery, I have not found them to be necessary/helpful for patients undergoing breast reduction surgery. This operation tends to be very well tolerated by the vast majority of patients, without the use of pain pumps.

 Best wishes with your upcoming procedure.