Is Dilaudid good for pain management after a tummy tuck?

There are many acceptable options for pain management after a tummy tuck. Often, the specific "best" one has to do with the individual. Some people react adversely to one type and fine to another. It's similar to the over the counter pain meds some people take. While one patient may prefer Advil, others swear by tylenol,and still others prefer aleve. Have a discussion with your surgeon on your preference (based on your history, if you have any). Otherwise, let your surgeon guide you as to his/her "standard" choice for narcotics. Continue the conversation post-operatively if the chosen medication is not working well (may be either too strong/sedating or not strong enough). Since many patients react differently to specific medications, this should be an easy conversation to have with your surgeon as we see these concerns often. Good luck

I find that Dilaudid is inappropriate because it causes too much euphoria for the degree of pain relief it provides.  I believe that Vicodin is more appropriate.  I avoid all NSAID's (motrin, naprosyn, alleve, etc) for one month after surgery because of the effects on the platelets, and thus the increase in bleeding complications.

There is no single medication that is ideal in every patient. Dilaudid is strong and usually quite effective. I also recommend Exparel, a long-lasting numbing agent that is placed into the surgical area to reduce pain sensation. I have found that pain rating scores and use of narcotic medications such as Dilaudid are both reduced by about 50% with Exparel.

There are several good choices for postoperative pain management.  This decision should be managed by your treating physician.  Hope this helps.Dr. Ali Mosharrafa

There is no single best pain medication. It needs to be individualized. I discuss pain management with my patients and try to figure out what will work the best. The discomfort of a tummy tuck should be able to be well managed, so you can be up and walking the next day. I do prescribe a narcotic similar to dilaudid, but also place a pain pump, which infuses a local anesthetic for 5-6 days. I also recommend motrin(600-800 mg) and many I place on Neurotin startind a day or two before surgery. All this is to makes the recovery as easy as possible with the fewest possible side effects. The best way to protect from potential blodd clots is to feel well enough to be up and walking the day of surgery and every day after that.Eric Weiss MD