AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question I am 20 days post op today. I took Percocet for 12 days following my surgery. On the 12th day post op I stepped down to Norco with the instructions of "One every four hours." After taking one, the pain did not subside. I proceeded to call my PS's office and asked if it was ok for me to take two. They said "Yes." I then began taking 2 but not every 4 hours but every 6 hours as I did not need it every four hours. The instructions when I would go pick up my refill did not reflect the phone instructions I was given when I called. To make a very long store short, I called in today for a refill and also asked if they could change the instructions. Keep in mind during this time period that I had been taking two instead of one, I had tried several times to taper down and take just one but my body was telling me it was not time. I could still feel a lot of pain. Today when I called I was refused and told that at this point I shouldn't be feeling any pain at all. I didn't realize there was time limit on how long someone should feel pain. I thought pain medication was prescribed to help you through recovery, not on a time limit. I can understand their concern and I can understand people get addicted to this stuff but I am in legitimate pain. If I had known I was going to be left out in the cold and had to suffer through recovery I would have chosen another PS's office. They also told me this was less severe than a C-Section. I had a C-Section with my daughter 2 1/2 years ago and that was a walk in the park compared to this. Now, I am a heavier woman than most. I was a Size 12 at 165 pounds before the surgery. I had a Full TT, MR and Lipo in my hips and butt. I had a very LARGE belly from my kids and lots of belly fat. I am not sure if it is because my belly was so big if this is why I am taking longer than usual to not feel pain or it could be I have always had a low tolerance for pain. But I am pretty upset and hope that one does the job. My question is, am I allowed at this point to feel pain? Is there some rule written somewhere. I don't like taking pain medication. In fact, I hate it, it makes me feel weird and makes me sick to my stomach so I am not enjoying this, I just want to get through it without being uncomfortable. They made me feel like such a loser when I called that now I am depressed that I am even feeling pain still.
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Lexey,
I'm obviously sorry for the problems you're still having.
In my experience, it's unusual to have this much pain at what is essentially three weeks post-surgery; most of my patients are off pain medications within a week or so, or at least have tapered down dramatically by that point. So you have to make sure that nothing is wrong. I'm assuming that you've spoken to your PS and his office, and that nobody is concerned about that.
But pain is pain, and it's hard for any one person to make an absolute statement concerning another person's pain. I'm not sure what to say, except perhaps you can explain this in person to the doctor and/or his staff, and maybe you can work out some sort of a tapered regimen that will allow you at least a few more pain pills. You cannot, of course, be on them forever, and the narcotics are more tightly controlled than ever. There is definitely a limit on how much and how many you can have; exactly where that point is is open to some debate. Hopefully, you can plead your case and get at least some more relief; you will, of course, have to get off the pills pretty quickly unless there is something truly wrong.
