Plastic surgery can often seem like a daunting endeavor, but the recovery process doesn’t have to be as scary as it sounds. At Koger Cosmetic Clinic and Medspa, we offer a pain pump to help in the recovery of select plastic surgery procedures. This allows our patients to be as comfortable as possible throughout their recovery without having to rely on narcotics alone. Here’s everything you need to know about this ground-breaking technology.

What is a Pain Pump?

A pain pump is a small, disposable pain relief device filled with a local anesthetic used to relieve pain to a specific area after surgery. The pain pump continuously delivers the medication, which blocks the pain directly in the area of your procedure. At Koger Cosmetic Clinic & Medspa, we use pain pumps for tummy tuck or breast augmentation procedures.

Why Use a Pain Pump? 

The most common way to treat pain after surgery is with narcotics such as morphine or codeine. These drugs can have side effects such as constipation and nausea, and can also make you sleepy or groggy. Unlike narcotics, local anesthetics are medications that numb a targeted site. Because they don’t affect the entire body, there is less risk of these unpleasant side effects. The pain pump also provides a consistent distribution of the numbing agent, so there are no lapses in your comfort.  Patients experience different levels of pain. For this reason, we still provide prescriptions for traditional pain medications, however you will find that you need far less or none at all in conjunction with a pain pump.

How Does a Pain Pump Work?

The pain pump is connected to a small catheter (hollow wire), which is inserted directly to the surgical area during surgery by Dr. Koger. The catheters are connected to a small pump that is filled with lidocaine, a commonly used anesthetic used in other surgeries and dental procedures. The pain pump is then programmed to deliver the appropriate amount of medication specifically for you. 

How Long Does a Pain Pump Last?

The pain pumps for breast augmentation and tummy tucks are filled with about four days worth of medication. The pain pump will distribute that numbing medication evenly over the course of the first four days of your recovery to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. There won’t be any need to remember to dispense the medication or worry about getting too much. The pain pump does all the work for you so you can focus on getting better.

The pain pump has become an increasingly popular way to give patients a more comfortable recovery from their cosmetic procedure. If you are interested in learning more about how the pain pump can make your recovery process easier, contact us today to schedule your one-on-one consultation with Dr. Koger. He’ll sit down with you and answer any questions you have about this cutting-edge technology.