How to Find a Doctor Who Uses Exparel Near You [2026 Guide]

Exparel is not prescribed the same way most medications are. You can't call your primary care doctor, get a prescription, and pick it up at a pharmacy. Instead, Exparel is administered by a surgical provider — a surgeon, anesthesiologist, or Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) — directly at the surgical site during or after your procedure.

That means finding a "doctor who uses Exparel" is really about finding the right surgical team at the right facility. Here's a step-by-step guide for doing exactly that in 2026.

Who Administers Exparel?

Exparel can be administered by:

• Surgeons — who inject it into the surgical wound at the time of closure (wound infiltration)
• Anesthesiologists — who inject it near specific nerves (nerve blocks) such as the interscalene plexus for shoulder surgery or adductor canal for knee surgery
• CRNAs (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists) — who provide anesthesia care including nerve blocks at many hospitals and ASCs

The key point: the person who administers Exparel and the decision to use it are typically driven by the surgical facility's protocol and formulary, not an individual outpatient prescription.

What Specialties Use Exparel?

Exparel is most commonly used in:

• Orthopedic surgery — especially total knee replacement, total hip replacement, shoulder arthroplasty, and rotator cuff repair
• General surgery — hernia repair, appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and other abdominal procedures
• Colorectal surgery — colectomy, hemorrhoidectomy, and related procedures
• Cardiothoracic surgery — thoracotomy, VATS procedures, and sternotomy
• Plastic and reconstructive surgery — breast reconstruction, augmentation, and body contouring
• Urology — prostatectomy and related procedures

How to Find Surgeons and Facilities That Use Exparel Near You

Here are the most effective ways to find a surgical team that uses Exparel:

1. Ask Your Referring Physician or Primary Care Doctor

When your primary care physician refers you to a surgeon, you can request a referral specifically to a surgeon at a facility known for ERAS (Enhanced Recovery After Surgery) protocols. ERAS facilities are more likely to have Exparel on formulary and use it as part of a multimodal pain management approach. You can say: "I'd like to be referred to a surgeon at a facility that has strong non-opioid pain management protocols."

2. Search for ERAS-Accredited Programs

The ERAS Society and ERAS USA maintain resources about facilities that have implemented ERAS protocols. These programs, which emphasize non-opioid pain management and early mobilization, are more likely to use Exparel systematically. Hospitals with Joint Commission certification for joint replacement (Gold Seal programs) also tend to have structured multimodal analgesia protocols.

3. Call the Facility Pharmacy Directly

The most direct route: call the pharmacy at the hospital or surgical center you're considering and ask, "Is bupivacaine liposome (Exparel) on your formulary for [your procedure type]?" Hospital pharmacists are generally happy to answer this question. This single call can confirm or rule out Exparel availability before you invest time in consultations.

4. Ask at Your Surgical Consultation

At your pre-surgical consultation, bring up Exparel specifically: "I've read about Exparel as a non-opioid pain management option. Is it something you use for this procedure? If not, what pain management approach do you typically take?" This opens the conversation and signals that you're engaged in your own pain management decisions.

5. Consider a Telehealth Pre-Surgical Consult

Many surgical practices now offer telehealth preoperative consultations. This doesn't change where your surgery takes place, but it does allow you to evaluate a surgical team and discuss pain management preferences from home before deciding where to have your procedure.

Helpful Resources for Post-Surgery Prescriptions

After your procedure, your discharge prescriptions for oral pain medications will need to be filled at a local pharmacy. medfinder is a paid service that calls pharmacies near you to find which ones have your medications in stock and texts you the results — ideal for post-surgery when you'd rather not be making phone calls while recovering.

Also see: What Is Exparel? Uses, Dosage, and What You Need to Know in 2026.

And: How to Save Money on Exparel in 2026: Costs, Coverage, and Patient Assistance.