Exparel pain shot. Is it worth it for an arm lift?

Question

My Doctor charges me $1,000 for a Exparel shot, I am having an arm lift surgery and breast implants revision. Is Exparel worth it for arm lift?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question about Exparel being required for an arm lift and whether Exparel is worth the expense.  In my opinion, you do NOT need Exparel for your arm lift, arm reduction, or brachioplasty.   After an arm lift, you should NOT have that much pain.  All my arm reduction patients are very well controlled with oral pain medication.  I hope this information about Exparel and an armlift helps!  Good luck with your arm lift.   Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. (“Verified” Plastic Surgeon, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery,  and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Chet Mays, MD · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry!  Pain is very subjective.  Exparel will take the edge off and lasts up to 72 hours.  We would love to meet and discuss your concerns. Schedule a consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

An arm lift is generally very well tolerated and associated with less discomfort compared to many other cosmetic procedures. The patient can expect some bruising and swelling that improves over the first week. Exparel is injected into the surgery site and typically reduces the pain level for 72 hours. Think about your pain tolerance level and let that impact your decision.

Casey Anderson, MD, FACS · Answer

Probably not. Exparel is marketed to provide up to 72 hours of pain relief after surgery. Many doctors will provide a multimodal pain regimen that treats pain quite effectively after surgery (with no exparel). If money is no object, I'd say go for it. Certainly not required. As always, be sure to research who is doing your procedure to increase the chances of getting a desirable result.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

Exparel is a local anesthetic that lasts 24 to 48 hours. A revision breast surgery should not hurt as much as a primary procedure. We don’t charge extra for Exparel. The arm lift is not really painful. A long lasting local anesthetic would normally take care of the pain.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

There are different blocks with local anesthetic that can be used after procedure to provide additional pain relief. Exparel has duration of up to 72 hours but others may do a good job lasting 12-16 h. Unfortunately, Exparel is very expensive medication.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

This is a difficult question to answer as each person's pain tolerance is different.  Exparel is commonly used in procedures such as breast augmentation and a tummy tuck to help keep the pain manageable the first few days after surgery.  If you are not wanting to spend the extra money you should be able to manage with narcotic pain medication.  I encourage you to discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

Exparel pain shot. Is it worth it for an arm lift?

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