Pain pump and Exparel?

Just Exparel is what we recommend!  Pain pumps and adding other local anesthetic medications is contraindicated.  Skip the pump.  You should be fine on the pain medications that can be prescribed that don't have Acetaminophen.  Best Wishes!!

Hello and thank you for your question.I use Exparel for many of the procedures I offer.  Most of my patients elect to use Exparel for tummy tucks, body lifts, and breast reduction. The medication is injected at the time of surgery and lasts for 3 days.  It has been particularly helpful for our tummy tuck patients in that it allows them to get up and around more quickly.  Most surgical facilities will charge $350-400 for the 20 ml vial.  There is now a 10 ml vial available which should be half the cost and is perfect for case such as breast augmentation. Possible side effects with patients who received  Exparel and with other pain relievers can experience nausea, vomiting, and/or constipation. If it is not available, I have used the pain pump with good results.Best Wishes, Andrew Lyos MD FACS

There are certainly many pain medications that do not contain acetaminophen that you can probably use after surgery. Pain pumps and Exparel can be useful, but typically are not necessary. My experience with Exparel is that it does work, but not quite as well as the company that sells it would like for you to believe. The same is true with the pain pumps. Depending upon the surgery you are considering, you could probably do just fine with an isolated narcotic (oxycodone, hydrocodone) along with a NSAID (ibuprofen, advil, alleve, etc.).