Category: Health

Pain Management After Plastic Surgery

“Will it hurt?” This is without a doubt one of the most common questions cosmetic surgeons get asked. That’s because pain is simply a huge concern for many people. But like any cosmetic surgeon will tell you, the old adage ‘no pain no gain’ is extremely relevant in the world of cosmetic surgery more than in any other medical field. This should not worry you though because pain management techniques keep on improving each day. It is in fact, safe to say that for each cosmetic surgery procedure out there, there is always a pain management technique preferred that guarantees minimum pain. Read on to learn more about pain management and plastic surgery.

Pain Facts

The extent and degree of pain people feel after cosmetic procedures –non invasive, minimally invasive and surgical – depends on several factors. For example, you may not know it but gender plays a key role when it comes to pain management. Generally, males have been proven to have a lower pain threshold compared to females. Age is also a factor alongside other considerations such as the type of procedure you wish to undergo and use of anesthesia.

Effective Management

Effective pain management calls for extensive background checks to ensure the patient does not have an underlying medical condition. That is not all though. It also calls for medication to prevent nausea which is a common side effect of pain medication.  Lastly, it includes guidance and advice on diet, what you should do and not do immediately after surgery and relevant suggestions on supportive accessories and garments.

Local or Regional Anesthesia

Regional anesthesia or large area local anesthesia aptly referred to as LALA are common in procedures like liposuction and eyelid surgery. LALA’s also come in under in biopsies that require tissue or skin samples as well as sex organ procedures. Local anesthesia can be delivered to the surgical site through a pain pump designed to release medication each time a button is pressed. The patient can then control intravenous infusion from the pain pump or it can simply be given as a continuous flow.

There are other benefits that come along with patient controlled pain pumps. They are primarily designed to decrease pain and reliance on medication. They also make it easy for surgeons to accurately administer anesthesia. A patient cannot overdose on patient controlled pain pumps because the amount of medication in the pump is always limited and monitored. It does not matter how many times the release button is pressed. The pump will only release what is necessary and enough.

Nerve Blocks

They are used to control pain that affects a limited area. They are mostly delivered through a small catheter around the incision area. They are ideal for pain management solely because they can control pain longer than a local pain injection can. Surgical procedures on legs and hands use nerve blocks. Facial surgical procedures and many dental treatments also use nerve blocks.  Note that nerve blocks reduce the amount of narcotic substances required to control pain. That explains why they come along with minimal side effects.

Oral pain medications

During your recovery you may be prescribed pain medications to be taken by mouth. There is a wide variety of oral pain medication, including narcotic and non-narcotic pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Most, but not all, oral pain medications should be taken every four hours to be effective. Before you are discharged, clarify this with your doctor. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and read the label on the medication. Some medications should be taken with food to help prevent nausea and vomiting, whereas other medications need to be taken on an empty stomach to assist their complete absorption.

Oral pain medications you may be given include:

• After surgery opioids (narcotics) – Including morphine, fentanyl and hydromorphine. There are many ways to take these strong pain relievers. Opioids may cause vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, itching and constipation. Taken as directed, your risk of addiction to them is very rare.

• Opioids to be taken at home – Including Endone, Panadeine Forte, Darvocet, and others. They too have many options to choose from and are effective in controlling moderate to severe pain. These may also cause nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, itching and constipation. These medications often contain paracetamol. Too much paracetamol can damage your liver, so make sure that you are not taking other medications that contain paracetamol. In addition, prescription medication can be addictive.

• Before you are given any pain medication, tell your doctor about oral medications you have been prescribed, what you are buying over-the-counter and whether you are taking any vitamins or supplements.

• Non-opioid (non-narcotic) pain relievers –These include Panadol among others. They can control mild to moderate pain. Because they have very few side effects, they are suitable for most patients, and using them properly reduces the need for stronger medications that may have serious side effects. If taken in excessive amounts, these pain relievers can contribute to liver damage, so follow directions carefully. People who already have liver problems and those who consume a lot of alcohol may face a higher level of risk when on these medications.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Drugs such as Nurophen can relieve mild pain and reduce inflammation and swelling. Some are available as over-the-counter medicines, but check with your doctor before taking them. They can reduce the amount of narcotic pain meds you take, helping reduce unpleasant side effects. However, many people experience stomach upsets and dizziness while on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, and if you suffer from kidney problems, stomach ulcers or heart failure, do not take them without a doctor’s approval. Never exceed the recommended dose. Just because they can be purchased without a prescription doesn’t mean they can’t do you harm if abused.

What should I be taking for the pain?

In the first 48 hours after your surgery it’s best to take Paracetamol 500mg x 2 at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bed time. You will probably need stronger medication such as Endone, Panadeine Forte or Palexia for any breakthrough pain in between.

Keeping the pain under control will help you recover more quickly. Your posture will be better which helps to prevent other muscle aches and pain. You will be able to mobilise more freely which helps to prevent blood clots. Your blood pressure will not be as high which helps to minimise bruising. 

Before you go home

A few points to remember before you go home following a surgical cosmetic procedure:

• If you have not been given pain medication, make sure to ask for a prescription in case you do feel pain later on.
• Fill the prescription before going home. You do not want to be in severe pain and have to wait for someone to fill the prescription for you.
• Get your surgeon’s phone numbers. If your pain becomes severe or you have an unusual reaction to the medication, contact your surgeon.
• Your recovery is a priority for your surgeon, just as it is for you. Severe pain can affect the positive outcome of the procedure and good pain management can speed up your recovery. Knowing this, your surgeon will make his or her best effort to prescribe the most effective combination of pain relieving treatments.

What skills do you need to be a vet?

Being an animal doctor is a challenging, demanding and ultimately rewarding job. You’ll need to learn how to diagnose, treat and manage a variety of illnesses and conditions in many different species of animals. It’s a path that demands a great deal of compassion for both animals and for their owners and a background in the sciences.

Whether you have always wanted to work with animals or a mid-career change has you weighing your options, before registering for school you should assess exactly what skills you need to be a veterinarian.

What Does a Veterinarian Do?

Veterinarians may work in private practices, farms, zoos, shelters and animal hospitals. They care for a wide variety of animals, diagnose illness and injuries and provide education to pet owners on proper animal care and nutrition. They may care for domestic pets, livestock and wild or exotic animals. They often perform surgeries and contribute to research that helps animals and people.

Skills Needed to Become a Veterinarian

Veterinarians need to have a variety of skills to offer the best care possible to their patients and clients, including:

• Attention to detail: Veterinarians need to be methodical and analytical. They must be able to interpret data and think logically to diagnose illness and injury.
• Compassion: Veterinarians deal with people who may be distraught about a beloved pet’s death or illness. They must be able to empathize with an animal’s suffering and show care and compassion.
• Physical strength and stamina: Veterinarians need to lift and move animals during examinations and surgeries and stand for long hours.
• Technical and scientific aptitude: Veterinarians use technical machinery and have to interpret information from X-rays, reports and blood tests.
• Excellent communication skills: Veterinarians have to be able to describe sometimes complicated information to members of the public when they may be emotionally upset. They have to clearly explain home care instructions for medicine doses and follow up care in a way that pet owners will understand. They need to write detailed notes and often give their expert opinions in presentations, speeches and reports. 

Communication Skills:

Veterinary Assistants work on the frontlines connecting vets, pets and pet owners. Good communication skills help them send clear messages while listening carefully to pet owners’ questions and concerns. Vet Assistants are responsible for answering phone calls, booking appointments and providing pet owners with important animal care information.

An important part of joining a veterinary clinic or hospital is having good working relationships with the entire veterinary team. Your coworkers will include vets, vet technicians and other Veterinary Assistants. Having a good attitude can help make your interactions with others productive, and help keep everyone on the same page to avoid messy misunderstandings. Nonverbal communication is also important. A confident posture and a smile can go a long way!

Empathy Skills:

The best Veterinary Assistants know how to engage with pet owners in a genuine and respectful way. You must be able to interact with people from all walks of life and help them feel comfortable. Vet Assistants often encounter clients that are worried, or distraught about the health condition of their pets. It is a Vet Assistant’s duty to understand and sympathize with how the clients are feeling and offer reassurance and support.

Empathy skills can also help you work with the many animals that you’ll meet. By understanding their stress and fear, you can use a comforting, relaxed and assuring attitude to calm them down, which puts them in a safer position to receive treatment.

Passion for Animals

The most important skill is a passion for animals and a commitment to the health and well-being of animals. The future veterinarian cannot just own a dog or cat; he must have desire to care for the pet and keep it healthy and happy. Veterinarians must also have a natural curiosity about other species, such as domestic farm animals or exotic species that live in the wild.

Academic Competencies

All veterinarians need outstanding competency in math, science, language and research and a commitment to lifelong learning. They need to keep informed of new scientific developments, quickly understand new information on procedures and drugs, and how to use them appropriately when treating their patients. They must be willing to take continuing education classes and attend conferences in their areas of specialization. As with physicians for the human population, they need to read articles in veterinary journals, understand the benefits of new drugs and meet with representatives who provide new types of medical equipment and supplies for the clinic.

Stress Tolerance

Veterinary technicians must be calm in emotional situations. Veterinary technicians move back and forth between different sets of clients, with each set visiting the veterinarian for dramatically different reasons. Therefore, clients will be experiencing very different levels of emotion.

Respect for Authority

Veterinary medicine is not coded or regulated in the way that human medical practice is. There are multiple options for treating any ailment with each option having its own devoted supporters advocating for its use. While veterinarians consult with veterinary technicians frequently in the course of developing a treatment plan, the chain of command remains. A veterinary technician must be follow the veterinarian’s orders without argument or delay. It is imperative that veterinary technicians recognize and abide by the proper chain of command.