MAKE A PLAN WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND ASK ABOUT NON-OPIOID OPTIONS FOR PAIN AFTER SURGERY.

Some of the most common concerns about surgery are the amount of pain involved and what to expect when recovering. Well-controlled pain can influence your recovery. General surgery procedures often involve an abdominal incision, so pain is expected. However, everyone experiences pain differently. Your doctor will have a pain management plan that includes different combinations of medications, including opioid and non-opioid options. In addition to managing pain after surgery, the plan is aimed at helping you reach important recovery goals such as moving, walking, eating, and getting back to normal daily activities. Talk to your doctor about a pain management plan that is right for you and your type of surgery. Create your discussion guide now.

General surgery covers a variety of procedures on different areas of the body, but often includes the abdomen. Some common general surgical procedures are

  • AppendixAppendix or gallbladder removal
  • ColorectalColorectal (colon and/or rectal) surgery
  • Hernia repairHernia repair
  • Bowel surgeryBowel surgery
  • Hemorrhoid surgeryHemorrhoid surgery
  • Weight loss surgeryWeight loss surgery (known as bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass)
  • AppendixAppendix or gallbladder removal
  • Hemorrhoid surgeryHemorrhoid surgery
  • Bowel surgeryBowel surgery
  • Hernia repairHernia repair
  • ColorectalColorectal (colon and/or rectal) surgery
  • Weight loss surgeryWeight loss surgery (known as bariatric surgery, such as gastric bypass)
stomach 8% of patients

8% of patients

who took opioids for the first time after gastric sleeve weight loss surgery became long-term users of opioids

colon 17% of patients

17% of patients

who had a bowel resection became long-term users after taking opioids for the first time

side effects

SIDE EFFECTS from opioids can slow down your recovery and may cause nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Opioids may make you feel drowsy or confused.

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Patients aged 65 years and older who are prescribed opioids are 44% more likely to become long-term users.

40%

Women are 40% MORE LIKELY than men to become long-term users of opioids after surgery.

While many patients may receive opioids after surgery, there are other options for managing pain after surgery that may help you during recovery. That's why it's important to discuss these options with your doctor.

NON-OPIOID EXPAREL PROVIDES LONG-LASTING PAIN RELIEF AFTER SURGERY

  • EXPAREL is given during surgery as part of an opioid-minimizing approach and controls pain for the first few days after surgery, when you need it most
  • EXPAREL works by numbing the area of your body where your surgery was performed, unlike opioids, which affect your whole body

In general surgery, patients given EXPAREL*

Reported less pain

Reported less pain

Required fewer opioids

Required fewer opioids†

leave the hospital sooner

Were ready to leave the hospital sooner

fewer complications after surgery

Had fewer complications after surgery

*Based on clinical studies of surgeries using EXPAREL as an alternative to standard of care.

†The clinical benefit of the decrease in opioid consumption was not demonstrated in the pivotal trials.