Is a pain pump offered with a tummy tuck to reduce pain afterwards?

Question

Sophie Ricketts, MBBS (Hons), FRACS (Plast) · Answer

Pain pumps are tiny catheters placed by your surgeon during your procedure that from an automated pump instil local anaesthetic around your abdominal muscles in the first 20 or so hours after tummy tuck surgery. I find that they work really well.
They can sometimes be rebatable through your health fund and up to you whether it's something you'd consider. The alternative is to inject long acting local anaesthetic into the sheath around the abdominal muscles during your surgery. I find that this works really well too, but generally wears off after about 8 hrs (as opposed to the pain pump that I continue for about 20hrs).
Something to talk about at your consultation!

Rodger Shortt, FRCSC · Answer

The first few days after a tummy tuck I tell my patients that they will be moving slowly.  It is not agonizing, just slow.  The reason for this is good analgesia.I use a number of tricks with the goal of minimizing discomfort, minimizing side effects, minimizing complexity, and minimizing cost.I use a combination of long acting pain relief that I inject during surgery and some pain medications that are inexpensive and work on a variety of different pain receptors thereafter.  I don't use a pain pump because of complexity and cost.  I have never found my patients to be uncomfortable and in need of such a device.  It is not to say that they don't work well.  They are just not necessary in my opinion. Dr. Rodger Shortt is a plastic surgeon in Oakville, Ontario.  His strives to provide the best plastic surgery results and care.  He is one of few plastic surgeons in Canada with a top rating on RealSelf, RateMD and Ontario Doctor Review.  He is the Director of Cosmetic Surgery Training Program and an Assistant Clinical Professor at McMaster University.

Richard Baxter, MD · Answer

A pain pump has a reservoir bulb of a numbing medication that slowly infuses into the surgical area through tiny catheters. Several years ago I switched to Exparel, which is a slow release form of a numbing medication that doesn't require the bulb and catheter apparatus. We now place it with a technique called a TAP block which seems to make it more effective.

Dhaval M. Patel, MD · Answer

thank you for your question. Pain pump is a good option for pain relief after muscle repair with tummy tuck. However they can be cumbersome and messy at times. Now I exclusively use Experel which is a longer acting pain medication. It works very well. I still offer pain pump option to patients if they really want it.
It's best to have a thorough in person consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area to discuss all of your treatment options. Best of luck!
Dr. Dhaval M.PatelDouble Board Certified Plastic SurgeonChicago-Water Tower Place, Oakbrook, Hoffman Estates, South Barrington

Lawrence Iteld, MD · Answer

For almost a decade, we used pain pumps to deliver local numbing medicine to the surgical site after tummy tucks and breast augmentation. Since 2013, I have used Exparel, a longer acting numbing medication that we inject one time during surgery. This has provided better post-operative pain control than the pumps. In fact, almost none of our tummy tuck or breast augmentation patients require any narcotic pain pills following surgery!

Is a pain pump offered with a tummy tuck to reduce pain afterwards?

Answers (10)

Answer: Pain pump bs. Experel and tummy tuck

Answer: Pain pump bs. Experel and tummy tuck

Answer: Pain After Tummy Tuck

Answer: Pain After Tummy Tuck

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Is a pain pump offered with a tummy tuck to reduce pain afterwards?

Answers (10)

Answer: Pain pump bs. Experel and tummy tuck

Answer: Pain pump bs. Experel and tummy tuck

Answer: Pain After Tummy Tuck

Answer: Pain After Tummy Tuck

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.