Why Valium As a Post Tummy Tuck Muscle Relaxant?

Muscle relaxation can help with your postop recovery.  I use a drug called robaxin, but there are others like flexeril.  Valium works too but can have a sedative affect which is helpful in some patients.

I don't believe Valium actually relaxes muscles.  It does relieve anxiety so the patient might percieve that the muscles are not as tight.  Doesn't matter really if the patient feels better.  Valium is not a narcotic.

I routinely prescribe Valium in addition to narcotics after tummy tuck and breast augmentation.  This helps to reduce your tightness after surgery by reducing the severity and intensity of the muscular spasms.  Routinely after a tummy tuck, the muscles are tightened to help correct the stretch after childbearing and this can lead to more muscle spasms which is relieved with Valium or Flexeril.

 

Valium is an excellent medication to aid with post-operative muscle relaxation after surgery, as it will decrease the amount of narcotic medication required for pain control.  It is non-narcotic, so it can be used alternatively with the narcotic pain medication.  It is very inexpensive, as most cash-paying cosmetic patients are appreciated of.

Valium is not  just an anti-anxiety medication, but it has a role as an anti-spasm medication as well.   It is a nice supplement to primary narcotic medications and other non-narcotic anti-inflammatory pain medications such as toradol.  Each surgeon has their own preferred postoperative protocols for pain control.  We have the ability to tailor these protocols to suit the individual needs of each patient.  

Dr. Basu

Houston, TX