SMOKING AND PLASTIC SURGERY
WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT SMOKERS HAVING SURGERY?
We know that smokers have increased heart disease, lung disease, lung cancer, stomach cancer, mouth cancer, and other trivial problems.
But what about just having surgery which is only for a few hours? Is that ok? Well, if you smoke before surgery you still have nicotine and possibly carbon monoxide in your system. It doubles the chance of complications. There is increased risk of infection, blood clots, scarring, healing problems, tissue death, and pneumonia.
In plastic surgery the biggest concern is that the nicotine in your system interferes with circulation to your skin and this can result in possible skin death with severe disfigurement. This is worse in face lifts, tummy tucks, breast reductions and breast lifts. Most plastic surgeons will not do these type of procedures unless the patient is nicotine free for at least 10 days. Nicotine free means no cigarettes, no chewless tobacco, no nicotine patch, and no nicotine gum!!!
Be safe and be honest with your surgeon. Many operations have minimal risk for smokers but others are risky.
The best thing is to be nicotine free for at least 10 days.
October 6th, 2009 at 1:03 am
[...] This chap put an intriguing blog post on SMOKING AND PLASTIC SURGERY | Dr. Graham Kemsley Orange County …Here’s a quick excerptSmoking Cessation ProgramEvery faces an option every now and then reality. Measure how well you can resist the temptation before you rush towards the nearest smoke. First timers will have a lot of troubles to mind to succeed, however, these setbacks should not be cause for failure. Regard it as a chance to overpower your personal demons.A good way to carry yourself from such attacks of cravings is to imagine two doors that represents two choices. Act as if it is giving you the chance to choose either Yes, I would like to have a smoke right now, or No, maybe later. You will be relapsing a few times, but a disappointment is a good occasion to understand what went wrong and how you can fix it next time. The chief part is that you keep drilling onwards with your effort. Regard it as bulking up, but instead of wight, [...] [...]