Pain Pump, ActiPatch™, and Other Patient Information from Southern Plastic Surgery in Atlanta

It is Dr. Whiteman’s sincere belief that the best way to ensure a successful cosmetic surgery procedure and complete patient satisfaction is through extensive patient education. We have taken the time to put together this website to give you an opportunity to investigate any procedures that you may be interested in. Below, you can find a patient glossary containing key terms which may help you come to a better understanding of cosmetic surgery, as well as an introduction to two methods of effective pain management, the pain pump and the ActiPatch™ system, both available at our Atlanta office.

Of course, the best way to educate yourself on all procedures you are considering is to set up an appointment with Dr. Whiteman. During the consultation he will walk you through every procedure you are considering, and give you an accurate assessment of the dangers, risks, and potential benefits you may draw from the procedures you are considering.

ActiPatch™ and Pain Pump — Atlanta Pain Management

We have several non-standard methods of pain management for our cosmetic surgery patients, which can alleviate or completely circumvent the need for narcotics or other pain medication. We currently offer the Actipatch™ and the pain pump to patients at our Atlanta practice.

The ActiPatch™ is a non-narcotic anti-inflammatory patch available from our Atlanta office that we apply directly to the surgical site which accelerates the healing of soft tissue injury. The pain pump is a device which delivers local anesthetic directly to the area of your surgery from the moment you leave the operating table, and some patients report having no post-operative pain whatsoever with the use of the device. Both devices can facilitate faster, more comfortable recovery from surgery.

For more information on pain management, click here to ask Dr. Whiteman.

Pain Pump

If the thought of narcotic, systemic general pain medication is not appealing to you, you may want to consider the pain pump for your recovery. Instead of a pill taken which affects the entire body, the pain pump delivers local anesthesia directly to the wound, allowing your immediate post-surgical recovery time to be more comfortable. We have found that patients who use the pain pump will often leave our Atlanta office without a need for any additional pain medication.

ActiPatch™ System

By creating a low-power pulsed electromagnetic field, the ActiPatch™ helps to reduce swelling and inflammation through a safe, low-powered pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF). Electromagnetic therapy has been used for over 20 years by doctors for a variety of conditions, with an excellent record of safety. The Actipatch™ system causes a reduction in swelling and inflammation which occurs around soft tissue injuries such as surgical sites.

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Patient Glossary

We invite you to take a moment to browse through this list of common plastic surgery terms. If you have any questions whatsoever about any procedure or technique, please feel free to contact our office.

ActiPatch™
A non-narcotic anti-inflammatory patch that accelerates the healing of soft-tissue injury such as those caused by surgical procedures. The patch works through the use of pulsed electromagnetic frequency, helping to stimulate healing and reduce pain and swelling without drugs.
Anesthesia
Refers to the administration of a numbing drug, or to the drug itself, usually administered during surgical procedures.
Autologous tissue breast reconstruction
The use of the patient's own tissues to reconstruct a new breast mound. The common technique is the TRAM (transverse rectus abdominis muscle) flap. A TRAM flap involves removing an area of fat, skin, and muscle from the abdomen and stitching it in place to the mastectomy wound.
Eyelid lift (blepharoplasty)
Procedure involving the surgical removal of excess fat, muscle, and skin from both the upper and lower eyelids to redefine the shape of the eye.
Breast augmentation (augmentation mammoplasty)
Procedure to reshape and enhance the breast in order to make it larger, usually using implants. The procedure can also be performed to reconstruct the breast following breast surgery.
Breast Lift (mastopexy)
Procedure designed to remove small amounts of tissue from the breasts, lifting and repositioning them higher on the torso to compensate for the effects of gravity.
Breast reconstruction
Surgery which recreates a breast which has been completely or partially lost to surgery or trauma. Often the recreation of the nipple and areola will go along with breast reconstruction. Breast reconstruction is a highly personalized surgery often requiring several operations, and each procedure will be different depending on the patient’s situation.
Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty)
When a woman’s breasts are particularly large and heavy, it can create problems both aesthetically and physically. A breast reduction removes excess skin and tissue from the breasts, and places the breasts in a more natural position.
Browlift (also called a forehead lift)
Procedure to correct a drooping brow and give the face a more alert, awake appearance. By removing excess skin and muscle tissue, the forehead is smoothed and the brow raised, with minimal incisions and scarring.
Chemical peel
Utilizes a chemical solution in order to improve the skin's appearance by removing part of the outermost layer. It can reduce or eliminate fine lines under the eyes and around the mouth, correct uneven skin pigmentation, and treat other minor skin maladies.
Cosmetic plastic surgery (aesthetic plastic surgery)
Plastic surgery performed to repair or reshape otherwise normal structures of the body, primarily to improve the patient's appearance and self-esteem.
Expander/implant breast reconstruction
The use of an expander to create a breast mound, followed by the placement with a permanently filled breast implant.
Facelift ( rhytidectomy)
Surgical procedure that involves the removal of excess facial fat, the tightening of facial muscles, and the stretching of facial skin to approximate a smoother, firmer appearance. The procedure takes place on either the face, neck, or both.
Mini-Facelift
Gives an overall lift to the neck and lower third of the face, rather than focusing on the entire face itself.
Mid-Facelift
Often done using endoscopic, minimally invasive techniques, a mid-Facelift is perfect for patients seeking minor improvements in their facial region, without worrying about excess skin in the jowls or neck.
Flap surgery
One type of surgery that involves transporting healthy, live tissue from one location of the body to another - often to areas that have lost skin, fat, muscle movement, and/or skeletal support. There are several different types of flap surgery methods that may be utilized, depending upon the location of the flap and the structures that need to be repaired.
Gynecomastia
Literally translated to "woman breast", this is a condition in which the male breast tissue enlarges. This usually occurs when the male is experiencing periods of hormonal changes, such as those during infancy, adolescence, and old age.
Lipodissolve
Procedure in which a compound of enzymes and mild medications are injected into fatty tissue, dissolving the fat and expelling it through the urine.
Liposuction
Removal of excess fat through a suctioning process. Liposuction is an excellent way to improve the body’s contour and shape, but is not an acceptable alternative to weight loss.
Power-assisted liposuction
Utilizes a suction tube that vibrates at its tip, helping to dislodge fat cells so they may be removed more easily; often used in conjunction with the tumescent procedure.
Tumescent liposuction
By injecting a combination of saline, adrenaline (two substances found naturally in the body) and an anesthetic liquid, the fatty tissues to be removed are puffed up (“tumesced”), making them easier to remove.
Ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL)
Involves the use of ultrasonic waves to liquefy the fat to be removed. As the ultrasonic waves affect fatty tissue only, surrounding tissue is left unharmed and blood loss is minimized.
Mastectomy
Surgery to remove portions, or all, of the breast.
Otoplasty (ear surgery)
Reshaping or reducing in size prominent or large ears. Usually done on children, this procedure can also be done on mature adults.
Pain pump
A device, fitted to patients post-operatively, which is worn for a period of several days and delivers local anesthetic directly to the site of the surgery. Pain pumps eliminate or drastically reduce the need for pain medication following surgery.
Plastic surgery
The surgical specialty that deals with the reconstruction of facial and body tissue that requires a reshaping or remolding due to disease, a defect, or disorder - in order to approximate a normal appearance or to repair working ability.
Reconstructive plastic surgery
One type of plastic surgery that is performed on abnormal structures of the body that may be caused by trauma, infection, developmental abnormalities, congenital defects, disease, and/or tumors. This type of surgery is usually performed to improve function, but may also be performed to approximate a normal appearance.
Rhinoplasty (nose reshaping surgery or “nose job”)
Surgical reshaping of the nose in order to repair a defect or correct an unwanted aesthetic quality. Rhinoplasty can be used to change the size, shape, and angle of the nose, and involves the resculpting of the bone and cartilage.
Scar
The body's natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is usually composed of fibrous tissue. Scars may form for many different reasons, including as a result of infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue.
Skin grafts
A skin graft may be used to cover skin that has been damaged and/or is missing. This surgical procedure involves removing healthy portions of skin from one part of the body to restore normal appearance and/or function to another portion of the same body. The location where the skin is removed is called the donor site. There are various types of skin grafts that may be utilized, depending upon the size and location of needed skin.
Tissue expansion
A surgical procedure that involves inserting a balloon-like device (called an expander) under the skin. The expander then slowly secretes liquid into the area to be repaired to actually stretch and expand the skin. This serves the function of "growing" extra skin to repair nearby lost or damaged skin.
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Procedure to minimize the abdominal area by surgically removing excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen and tightening the muscles of the abdominal wall.
Mini tummy tuck (partial abdominoplasty)
Removal of a small amount of fat, ideally below the navel, in patients who do not require a full tummy tuck.

Patient Forms

If you have any questions about the pain pump, the ActiPatch™, or have any other questions for Dr. Whiteman, contact our office in Atlanta today.






Southern Plastic Surgery
David M. Whiteman, M.D., F.R.C.S.(c)
3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 370
Duluth, Georgia 30096
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Phone: 678.373.0271