A New Approach to Pain Management After Plastic Surgery: Dr. Daniel Gould Featured in Aesthetics Unfiltered

Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Daniel Gould, MD, PhD was featured in Jolene Edgar’s Aesthetics Unfiltered discussing Journavx, a newly approved non-opioid pain medication, and its potential to reduce patients’ reliance on narcotics during recovery from plastic surgery and certain non-surgical aesthetic treatments.

Journavx, also known as suzetrigine, was FDA-approved in January 2025 as the first medication in a new class of pain-signal inhibitors. Unlike opioids, which act within the brain and can cause side effects including nausea, constipation, sedation, respiratory depression, and addiction, Journavx targets a specific sodium channel involved in transmitting pain signals through peripheral nerves before those signals reach the brain.

Dr. Gould began incorporating Journavx into his practice shortly after its approval. He describes the experience of one patient who underwent a facelift combined with a tummy tuck, 360-degree liposuction, and abdominal etching. Despite the extent of the procedures, the patient experienced significant pain relief after starting Journavx and ultimately required only two Percocet tablets during his recovery.

The medication has become particularly useful in Dr. Gould’s practice for procedures that can involve greater postoperative discomfort, including tummy tucks, body lifts, certain breast procedures, and extensive liposuction. He has also incorporated it into pain-management protocols for non-surgical treatments such as radiofrequency microneedling and certain laser procedures, helping some patients avoid opioids or sedatives altogether.

Rather than relying on a single medication, Dr. Gould uses Journavx as part of a multimodal approach to pain management. His surgical protocols can combine different medications before, during, and after surgery to target pain through multiple pathways, with narcotics available only when necessary. The objective is to keep patients comfortable while reducing the amount of opioids required throughout recovery.

Dr. Gould also emphasizes that Journavx is still a relatively new medication. Potential drug interactions, allergies, and individual patient factors need to be carefully considered before prescribing it. He is currently conducting a small prospective study of the medication independently of its manufacturer, reflecting his broader approach of evaluating emerging treatments through both clinical experience and evidence.

Read the full article in Aesthetics Unfiltered:
https://joleneedgar.substack.com/p/pain-pain-go-away