Non-Opioid Pain Management After Surgery Approach
in Dallas, TX
Model
Body contouring procedures are often essential after significant weight loss or to change appearance in patients who are a healthy weight, to remove excess skin and fat. Surgery offers dramatic results, but fears over a long and painful recovery may keep some patients from realizing their goals. Patients also worry about using opioids for pain management, due to their addictive properties and uncomfortable side effects.
Dr. Aly, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, TX, understands these concerns, and he has developed an opioid-free pain management approach that can dramatically improve the recovery process. By eliminating the need for narcotics and replacing them with safer, more effective methods of pain management, he significantly improves the recovery process for his patients.
Reasons to Avoid Opioids After Plastic Surgery
Opioids are a class of medications that reduce pain. The drugs are also called opiates, narcotics, or painkillers. They work by activating an area of the brain to block pain signals between the brain and body. They have traditionally been the medication of choice after most surgeries due to their efficacy.
However, opioids have been linked to numerous side effects, including:
- Addiction
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Slowed breathing
The addictive nature of opioids is probably the most dangerous side effect. A person taking these drugs for pain may develop a tolerance and physical dependency over time, which increases the risk of overdose and death. Constipation, although it may not seem to be as dramatic a side effect, can lead to significant postoperative discomfort and inconvenience for patients.
Dr. Aly’s Non-Opioid Pain Management Approach
Fortunately, some doctors are finding safer alternatives to narcotics that are just as effective at reducing pain without the uncomfortable and harmful side effects. Dr. Al Aly is at the forefront of this effort, developing his own non-opioid approach that improves the recovery process for his patients overall.
Dr. Aly’s non-narcotic pain meds after surgery include:
EXPAREL® for Post-Surgical Pain
EXPAREL® is a long-acting, injectable anesthetic that is injected in all areas during surgery to reduce discomfort afterward. This non-opioid medication contains a time-release formula that significantly reduces pain for up to three days after surgery. It targets pain at its source to keep patients comfortable during the earliest stages of their healing.
Because this is a one-time injection at the time of surgery, there is no risk of addiction with EXPAREL® use. This anesthetic only affects the direct site of the surgery, while opioids affect the entire body.
JOURNAVX®: A New FDA-Approved Option
JOURNAVX® is a non-opioid analgesic approved by the FDA in January 2025. Dr. Aly is among the first surgeons in the country to include this medication in their pain management protocol. JOURNAVX® targets the pathways in the nervous system to prevent pain at the source and does not have central effects on the entire body, like narcotics do. This medication is the first in a new class of pain management drugs.
The FDA approved this medication for pain reduction after surgery. Unlike narcotics, JOURNAVX® targets the specific area of pain. The medication can be used for up to 10 days after surgery, when patients require the most pain relief. However, most often patients do not feel the need to continue using it after the first 5 days, especially when combined with EXPAREL®.
Dr. Aly utilizes a number of other non-narcotic pain medications that complete the regimen, and they include:
- Extra-strength acetaminophen
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Gabapentinoids
Dr. Aly’s No Drain, Less Pain Approach to Surgery
Dr. Aly has also developed surgical techniques that do not require postoperative drains, resulting in a more comfortable recovery and fewer complications. Surgical drains have been historically used after surgeries to reduce fluid buildup that can lead to complications. However, in Dr. Aly’s experience, the drains themselves were uncomfortable, did not reduce the risk of fluid buildup, called seromas, and increased a patient’s risk for infection.
Dr. Aly’s quilting technique eliminates the “dead space” between the skin/fat envelope and the underlying muscles, where fluid often accumulates. They also reduce tension on the incision and closures. This approach minimizes the risk of fluid buildup without the need for postoperative drains. The absence of drains reduces patients’ discomfort, ensuring that non-opioid medications provide sufficient pain relief, thereby improving the postoperative experience.
Overall, the regimen that Dr. Aly utilizes, described above, has resulted in the best pain control that his patients have experienced in over 30 years of practice.
Learn More About Opioid Alternatives After Surgery in Dallas, TX
Dr. Aly is an experienced plastic surgeon in Dallas with over 30 years of experience caring for patients. He has pioneered body contouring techniques that deliver outstanding results without drains or opioids. To learn more about his techniques or body contouring options in Dallas, TX, call (214) 645-3565 or fill out our online contact form.