Improving Breast Augmentation/Tummy Tuck Recovery with EXPAREL
It’s common for Mountain View plastic surgeon Dr. Ereso’s breast augmentation and tummy tuck candidates to be worried about the surgical recovery period: specifically, what it entails, and whether they will be uncomfortable while healing from surgery. Certain individuals even postpone or avoid having breast augmentation or tummy tuck surgery because they are nervous about pain or discomfort during recovery.
Traditionally, the first three days after surgery are the most challenging and uncomfortable. Patients typically manage pain with intravenous or oral narcotics, which can have a highly sedative effect, hamper range of motion and cause uncomfortable gastrointestinal, genitourinary and respiratory side effects.
Dr. Ereso is pleased to offer his patients a new aid for post-operative pain management. EXPAREL is a single-dose local analgesic that controls pain without the need for catheters, pain pumps or other delivery devices.
Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2011, EXPAREL combines bupivacaine, which causes numbness or a loss of feeling, with DepoFoam, a type of technology that breaks down the medication over time to prolong its effect.
“We followed the development of EXPAREL very closely and were very excited when it became FDA approved,” said Dr. Ereso. We have been using EXPAREL at Alexander Ereso Plastic Surgery and Aesthetics for more than two years and have been very happy with the reduction in post-operative pain noted by our patients.
EXPAREL is injected around the surgical incisions as well as into and below the pectoral muscle during breast surgery and into the rectus muscle when performing muscle repair during tummy tuck surgery. It can be used in any type of breast or abdominal surgery with good results. Post-operative pain and discomfort are reduced for up to three days after surgery. “This is a game changer.”
It’s important for Dr. Ereso to have a firm grasp on the medical history of any patient considering EXPAREL. He needs to know about the existing chronic medical conditions, as well as over-the-counter or prescription medications the patient takes or has taken, in order to avoid any complications.
Results of EXCLAIM Study Show Great Outcomes with EXPAREL
At last year’s meeting of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Pacira Pharmaceuticals presented the compelling results of a study on patients treated with EXPAREL. The EXCLAIM study looked at nearly 50 patients undergoing four common plastic surgery procedures: breast augmentation, breast reduction, abdominoplasty and a combination abdominoplasty/breast surgery. Patients reported low pain scores, high satisfaction with pain control and minimal use of opioid medication.
“Based on our findings, use of EXPAREL helps to effectively manage pain during the critically important 72 hours after surgery while reducing the need for opioid medications, which can result in a host of unwanted side effects,” said Dr. Stephan Finical, an EXCLAIM study investigator.
Learn More about Reducing Post-Operative Pain and Discomfort
EXPAREL could help make your breast surgery or tummy tuck recovery a much more comfortable and pleasant experience. If you would like more information about the surgical procedures or EXPAREL, please contact Dr. Ereso today.
