Post-Surgery Pain Control
Decrease pain and reduce the need for pain medication.
Our best-in-class anesthesia provider Tony Vo, CRNA provides regional anesthetic blocks for cosmetic surgery. Tony has taken additional training and furthered his education to administer these techniques to assist in speedier recoveries for our patients with less opiate/ narcotic usage intraoperatively and postoperatively.
How Does It Work?
The nerve block is an injection of local anesthetic between specific muscle layers to reduce the nerve pain in the immediate 24-72 hours of recovery. The procedure is performed in the operating room while the patient is under anesthesia and an ultrasound machine is used to identify the nerves in and around the surgery area. The nerve block reduces the need for postoperative pain medication (narcotics). As a result, there are fewer side effects such as nausea, vomiting and constipation. Depending on each patient’s perception of pain, there may still be a need for some pain medication after surgery.
For Patients Undergoing Abdominal Surgery
Transversus Abdominis Plane (TAP) Block: A TAP block is a nerve block that anesthetizes the abdominal wall and can provide pain relief in the surgical area for 24 – 72 hours after surgery. Patients having lower abdominal surgery, like a tummy tuck, can benefit from a TAP block.
For Patients Undergoing Breast Surgery
Serratus Anterior Plane or PECS Block: Breast blocks are nerve blocks that anesthetize the skin, tissue and muscles of the chest for 24 – 48 hours after surgery. Patients undergoing breast augmentation, breast lift or breast reduction can benefit from these pain blocks.
How to Receive a Nerve Block?
The nerve block is an additional procedure that you can request when scheduling your surgical procedure. The cost for the pain block is not included with the other facility, surgical and anesthesia fees for your procedure.
Patients who undergo surgery at Walden Cosmetic Surgery Center will be evaluated for this method and offered it if they are a suitable candidate and prefer regional block type of anesthesia.
Given our current opioid crisis in America, an alternative to traditional anesthesia and analgesia is welcomed. As Tony Vo, our CRNA says, “The great thing about the nerve blocks is we can give little to no narcotics for these cases”.
