Controlling discomfort following any surgical procedure is one of Dr. Glatt’s top priorities to ensure an uneventful recovery for patients. Typically post-operative pain is managed with the use of narcotic medications, such as Percocet or Vicodin, and muscle relaxants, such as Valium or Xanax. While local anesthetics can be helpful in controlling post-operative discomfort in a targeted area, the length of effect is typically only 6 to 12 hours.
An exciting new development is the availability of a medication called Exparel, which Dr. Glatt is thrilled to be able to offer his patients who have surgery at Morristown Medical Center. Exparel is a form of a currently used anesthetic called Marcaine, a local anesthetic that typically lasts for up to 12 hours. Given its special formulation, a single dose of Exparel produces pain control which can last from two to three days.
Since post-operative pain is most common in the first three days after surgery, patients are usually prescribed standard pain medication for use during this time. While these medications can be very helpful, they do have the potential side effects including nausea, drowsiness, constipation, and disorientation. With the concurrent use of Exparel patients require significantly less and sometimes even no pain medication, and report less discomfort and more mobility during the immediate post-operative period.
Dr. Glatt has found this groundbreaking medication beneficial for use in a variety of procedures, especially mommy makeover or abdominoplasty patients, who tend to have significant discomfort in the first few days following surgery. Exparel is also advantageous for patients who have breast augmentation surgery.
Exparel is offered to all of Dr. Glatt’s surgical patients who do not have an allergy to Marcaine anesthetic. For more information about Exparel and its potential benefits following surgery, or to discuss any of your plastic surgery goals with Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Brian S. Glatt, MD, FACS, please call our office at 973-889-9300.