Managing pain after surgery with fewer opioids

Pain management is one of the most important parts of recovery after breast reconstruction or body surgery, and for years it has meant relying on opioids. Reducing that reliance, without leaving patients uncomfortable, is a goal our field has been working toward.

I recently took part in an expert video roundtable for the Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, recorded in Dallas with Dr. Al Aly, Dr. Rod Rohrich and Dr. Sam Jejurikar and published in August 2026. The discussion centered on non-opioid approaches to pain after surgery.

Much of the conversation focused on Journavx (suzetrigine), the first FDA-approved non-opioid oral medication for moderate-to-severe acute pain. It works differently from opioids, as a sodium-channel blocker, and offers effective pain relief without the risks associated with opioid medications. The panel discussed its potential across a range of procedures, from body contouring to breast reconstruction.

It isn’t without current limitations. Because the medication is new, availability can be inconsistent and the cost to patients remains high. Those are real, practical hurdles that will take time to resolve.

For my own patients, reducing opioid exposure fits directly into the enhanced recovery approach our team already uses: the emphasis is always on a comfortable, safe recovery with as few opioids as possible. Non-opioid options like this one are a promising part of that picture.

Opioid-Sparing Options in Perioperative Pain Management: An Expert Video Roundtable Discussion. Aly A, Rohrich RJ, Haddock N, Jejurikar S. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 2026. Open access: doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojag153. As published, Drs. Aly and Jejurikar are consultants for Vertex, the maker of Journavx; Dr. Haddock reported no conflicts of interest.