It’s no secret that smoking can cause a wide range of serious health problems. But did you know that smoking can potentially affect your plastic surgery experience, recovery, and results too? If you smoke or use tobacco products and are considering cosmetic surgery, it’s important to understand why any qualified plastic surgeon will ask you to cease the habit at least a few weeks (the longer, the better!) before and after your operation.
Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, disrupting blood flow. Without adequate blood flow to the treated area, your rate of healing will slow considerably—potentially damaging the tissue in that region and beyond. If your recovery is extended for too long, you may not receive an optimal outcome, including more pronounced scarring and the need for additional surgery.
Nicotine increases the risk of infection and complications in a variety of ways, which is why it’s vitally important that you communicate honestly with your plastic surgeon about smoking. If you think you will have trouble following pre- and post-operative instructions to not smoke, Dr. Neal Goldberg can recommend some tips and products that may help curtail the habit.
Talk to us today for more information about the deleterious effects of nicotine and how smoking can impact your plastic surgery procedure.