To Pain Pump or Not to Pain Pump After Full Lipoabdominalplasty?

In our practice we use pain pumps for all our tummy tucks and breast augmentations. They work! The best example would be a recent patient where i did tummy tuck and vaginal tightening. On the follow up visit the girl said her tummy tuck was much less uncomfortable than the vaginal tightening! Even though it was a much bigger surgery, it was less uncomfortable because for that part we used a pain pump! So i do believe that they work and are worth the extra cost

Dear Sicily

I personally only do abdominal liposuction and no body wall resection surgery.  I send the tummy tucks out to highly qualified and board certified general plastic surgeons.  This is one of those procedures that they were put on planet Earth to do.  There is an enormous difference between those patients who get the pump and those who do not.  Those who get the pump can get up and walk in hours after surgery!  This seems almost impossible for those who did not get the pump.  If there is an extra fee for the pump, boy it seems worth it.  The faster you get moving after surgery, the faster and less complicated your recovery.  My 2 cents.

I highly advice the use of a pain pump for my patients. As for the lipo of the bulge, this is a difficult area to maintain compression for a few reasons. One is the possible presence of a drain. Another is the need for a personal hygiene orifice. Another is the difficult in applying adequate and not excessive pressure which could cause crease compression or ulceration. Ice compresses are also excellent for this purpose.

There is no evidence to suggest that the pain pump is helpful.  At best it has a placebo type effect, but is probably not worth the additional costs.

I routinely use extensive numbing medication during the procedure, and my patients have a smooth recovery.  I have tried the pain pump and in the few patients we used it on, no difference vs. when we don't use it.

It is a nice idea, but nice ideas don't always work.

I do not routinely use pain pumps.  I find that local I inject as well as oral pain meds seem to do the trick.  The pain pump can help, but I do not think that it is that significant.  It is also an additional cost to the patient.  I usually recommend a compression girdle for patients.