Is there a lot of pain after plastic surgery?

It varies: The amount of pain varies depending on the specific procedure as well as many other factors. Some procedures are relatively painless and others can be more painful. Most can be managed well with reasonable doses of pain medication for relatively short periods of time. For more specific information you should consult a board certified plastic surgeon.

Not typically : This varies tremendously with the procedure, location, and pain management protocols. While some procedures have minimal pain such as an upper eyelid lift, others on the abdomen or musculoskeletal structures may have considerable pain and will benefit from nerve blocks, pain pumps, and oral medication or topical treatments in combination with a variety of other interventions. Exercises may help.

Pain?: Pain will vary from patient to patient (varying pain thresholds) and will depend heavily on the exact procedure performed. Your surgeon will be your best resource when it comes to more specific answers. Also, he/she will be able to help with pain control using medications and “pain pumps” as indicated. Best wishes.

Post op pain: It depends on the procedure. Generally the need for significant pain control is limited to the much larger procedures. Many operations are easily handled by most patients and the pain is mild to moderate for a handful of days. Every patient is different, and your doctor will discuss his or her methods of helping you with the post operative discomfort.

Depends on surgery: Different procedures have different amounts of pain. New medications such as Exparel or pain pumps can be used to help with post op pain. Talk to your doctor about you concerns and they can guide you through your postoperative care. Good luck, dr. T.