I would like to have a tummy tuck and have been researching pain management that goes along with the recovery, I have heard of Surgeons using Exparel, But I read that some Drs have or use lidocaine instead? What’s the difference between Exparel and Lidocaine?
Answer: Exparel vs lidocaine after tummy tuck Hello and thanks for your questions. Exparel is a longer-acting drug in essentially the same class as lidocaine. Lidocaine only lasts for a few hours after a procedure, but Exparel can last for up to 3 days. Lidocaine can be administered by a pump that can last for 3 days also, but this requires a small catheter inserted through the skin, carrying the pump around with you, and only gives pain relief in the area where the catheter is placed - Exparel can be injected throughout the entire area that has been operated on for optimal pain relief in all areas. One reason to choose lidocaine over Exparel is that it is much much less expensive. I personally recommend Exparel to all of my tummy tuck patients and use it on every case to ensure that my patients are as comfortable as possible after their procedure. If this is something that you would like to explore using, most definitely discuss it with your surgeon. Best wishes!Daniel Brown, MD, FACSBoard Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsMember American Society of Plastic SurgeonsCastle Connolly Top DocReal Self Top 500
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Answer: Exparel vs lidocaine after tummy tuck Hello and thanks for your questions. Exparel is a longer-acting drug in essentially the same class as lidocaine. Lidocaine only lasts for a few hours after a procedure, but Exparel can last for up to 3 days. Lidocaine can be administered by a pump that can last for 3 days also, but this requires a small catheter inserted through the skin, carrying the pump around with you, and only gives pain relief in the area where the catheter is placed - Exparel can be injected throughout the entire area that has been operated on for optimal pain relief in all areas. One reason to choose lidocaine over Exparel is that it is much much less expensive. I personally recommend Exparel to all of my tummy tuck patients and use it on every case to ensure that my patients are as comfortable as possible after their procedure. If this is something that you would like to explore using, most definitely discuss it with your surgeon. Best wishes!Daniel Brown, MD, FACSBoard Certified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonsMember American Society of Plastic SurgeonsCastle Connolly Top DocReal Self Top 500
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Answer: Exparel vs lidocaine Exparel is a long acting local anesthetic that lasts up to 72 hours and is useful for tummy tucks and other procedures; it can cost between $300-350 to administer. Lidocaine is also a local anesthetic but only lasts a few hours and is relatively inexpensive. If you are concerned about post-operative pain control then Exparel is a great way to reduce the number of narcotics or pain pills you may need to take- especially for a tummy tuck. Discuss this in more detail with your plastic surgeon.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno
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Answer: Exparel vs lidocaine Exparel is a long acting local anesthetic that lasts up to 72 hours and is useful for tummy tucks and other procedures; it can cost between $300-350 to administer. Lidocaine is also a local anesthetic but only lasts a few hours and is relatively inexpensive. If you are concerned about post-operative pain control then Exparel is a great way to reduce the number of narcotics or pain pills you may need to take- especially for a tummy tuck. Discuss this in more detail with your plastic surgeon.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno
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July 19, 2018
Answer: Exparel lasts longer for tummy tuck pain relief Exparel reduces the amount of pain experienced for the first 3 days after tummy tuck by about half. Lidocaine lasts only an hour or two. Less pain over 3 days means less reliance on opioid medications and their side-effects. It is fairly expensive but well worth it.
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July 19, 2018
Answer: Exparel lasts longer for tummy tuck pain relief Exparel reduces the amount of pain experienced for the first 3 days after tummy tuck by about half. Lidocaine lasts only an hour or two. Less pain over 3 days means less reliance on opioid medications and their side-effects. It is fairly expensive but well worth it.
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July 18, 2018
Answer: My patients LOVE Exparel! Exparel is numbing medication that has a fat molecule attached to help it stay in the body longer usually 4 to 5 days. I used to use marcaine on a pain pump that would slowly squeeze numbing medicine through the muscle but I now inject Exparel directly into the muscle during the tummy tuck and I found it works 10 times better. Your surgeon just may not be familiar with it but maybe willing to try! But also remember, it is expensive, about $350 per bottle (20cc). I dilute it with 60cc saline and inject 40cc into the muscle on each side of midline. It’s great
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July 18, 2018
Answer: My patients LOVE Exparel! Exparel is numbing medication that has a fat molecule attached to help it stay in the body longer usually 4 to 5 days. I used to use marcaine on a pain pump that would slowly squeeze numbing medicine through the muscle but I now inject Exparel directly into the muscle during the tummy tuck and I found it works 10 times better. Your surgeon just may not be familiar with it but maybe willing to try! But also remember, it is expensive, about $350 per bottle (20cc). I dilute it with 60cc saline and inject 40cc into the muscle on each side of midline. It’s great
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
July 18, 2018
Answer: Why would some doctors use lidocaine instead of Exparel for a tummy tuck? It's a great question. Every plastic surgeon has a different technique that they use for pain control after tummy tuck surgery. During your consults make sure to speak with each surgeon about their protocol for pain control after surgery.
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July 18, 2018
Answer: Why would some doctors use lidocaine instead of Exparel for a tummy tuck? It's a great question. Every plastic surgeon has a different technique that they use for pain control after tummy tuck surgery. During your consults make sure to speak with each surgeon about their protocol for pain control after surgery.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
