Opioid Prescribing Habits and Pain Management Among Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons

Variability in Opioid Prescribing Among Plastic Surgery Residents After Bilateral Breast Reduction

“…In fact, recent studies demonstrate similar variable and excessive prescribing patterns among attending plastic surgeons. 16 In addition to improving undergraduate and graduate medical education curricula to include opioid prescribing guidelines, implementing evidence-based postoperative analgesia protocols can be a powerful way to minimize variability in opioid prescriptions and improve the appropriateness of those prescriptions. There is already evidence within the plastic surgery literature that opioid restrictive protocols are effective at reducing opioid prescriptions.…”

“…6,[10][11][12][13][14][15] Whereas guidelines for acceptable opioid use for postoperative pain exist for many general surgery and orthopedic operations, similar guidelines are only beginning to take form in the plastic surgery literature. 16 A recent survey-based retrospective study characterizes opioid overprescribing and begins to characterize opioid consumption patterns in plastic surgery patients. 17 Although other studies have examined variability in opioid prescribing patterns, data regarding opioid prescribing patterns among plastic surgery trainees in the United States are limited.…”

“…[10][11][12][13][14][15] Recent attempts at understanding opioid prescribing among plastic surgeons have relied on survey-based studies. 15,16 In this study, our aim was to characterize the opioid prescribing patterns of plastic surgery residents after a commonly performed reconstructive plastic surgery operation, bilateral reduction mammoplasty. 18 We sought to determine if variability exists among residents, across training years, and to what extent other factors may contribute to any variation.…”

Opioid Prescribing Practices Among Plastic Surgeons

“…Despite the 11% response rate, the authors feel that the results reflect overall trends in opioid prescribing practices in the plastic surgery community, and the surgical community at large. 2,33,34 …”

“…Despite the 11% response rate, the authors feel that the results reflect overall trends in opioid prescribing practices in the plastic surgery community, and the surgical community at large. 2,33,34 Understanding patients' pharmacogenetics may aid in recognizing individuals who are at risk for opioid use disorders. 35 This survey does not differentiate between opioid-naïve patients and those already on opioid or other pain medications for chronic pain.…”