What is the downside to using Exparel vs pain pump for tummy tucks?

The only downside to using Exparel is the cost, but pain pumps are not free either. I like to place it using a technique called a TAP block. 

I used to use pain pumps until I tried Exparel and found my patients are very happy with Exparel, it gives just as much pain relief but the patient does not need to deal with a pump with a tube tethered to them. Good luck!

I had just re-ordered $4000 worth of pain pumps when I first learned about Exparel. After I tried it the first time, I returned all my pain pumps. It's a game changer! When you mix the Exparel with regular marcaine, it gives you both early (nearly immediate) onset of relief of discomfort, as well as 3-4 days of relief afterwards. When I used pain pumps, I never felt the need to inject marcaine into the catheters just prior to removal. There simply wasn't enough discomfort at the time to warrant the injection, with the potential risk of infection (however small).If your surgeon uses progressive tension sutures to do a drainless tummy tuck, there is the risk that the pain pump catheters can get caught on those sutures, making removal of the catheters difficult if not impossible, especially it the surgeon uses barbed sutures as I do. It happened to me.Best thing was getting rid of the painpumps and using Exparel. I think the pain relief is better as well, since the exparel is injected into the abdominal wall, rather than just sitting atop of it, as is the case with the catheters and pain pump. Good luck!

The only downside of using exparel  versus a pain pump is the potential cost. Both  can provide additional effective pain relief in addition to oral medications.

Helloand thank you for your question.  In my practice, I have tried both and prefer using the Exparel mixed with Marcaine.  In my experience, the pain pump does not add any benefit, even if I use Marcaine alone.  The potential downside to Exparel is if the surgeon only uses Exparel.  It takes a while for the Exparel to start working, so if the surgeon only uses Exparel, I find the patient wakes up with discomfort.  This is why I mix Marcaine, which acts immediately, with the Exparel.  I get the patient of immediate acting local anesthetic of Marcaine with the longer acting Exparel.  The best of both worlds.  Hope this helps.

Both may provide for several days of added pain relief, however Exparel does not require any tubes or devices entering your body.  This may help simplify part of your recovery.  Speak with your surgeon about their experience with both options and discuss what they recommend.

I have used both with my tummy tuck patients and the patients like the fact that they do not have an additional piece of tubing that they have to be concerned with. They both are great in helping the patient during the first few days after the surgery.The one benefit of the pain pump is that you can inject some long acting Novocaine(marcaine) into the catheters just before you remove them so it gives you and additional few hours of pain improvement.

Both will give long term analgesia.  The use of exparel will avoid the need for a pump to be hanging from a strap or your binder.

Thank you for this wonderful question! I actually have utilized Exparel as well as a pain pump for post surgical pain control. For a tummy tuck I prefer to use Exparel as it provides a safe, reliable, non-invasive approach to pain management without the need for an extra device to manage following surgery. I encourage you to discuss pain management options with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon as he/she may have a preferred method of treatment. I do hope you have found this information helpful and I wish you luck!