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.