Joys of smoking

Many times, when looking at the list of the things patients must do before plastic surgery, some smokers are dismayed to find they must give up the habit at least three to four weeks before the procedure and continuing on through some weeks after the procedure.

Plastic surgeons are not being politically correct. Our concern is about the substances in tobacco that conflict with good medical practice and plastic surgery outcomes.

For starters, nicotine injures the blood vessels and makes them constrict. That means less blood can flow to points in the body where it’s needed.

And one instance when a free flow of blood is most needed is right after surgery that requires longer incisions. Blood is very necessary for proper healing because blood carries vital nutrients and oxygen to the wound site.

Why? If the blood flow is limited, healing can be so delayed the tissue on both sides of an incision can actually die – this leads to very poor scars. Smokers are also at a much higher risk under anesthesia.

Other undesirable side effects include:

• Increased risk of infection
• Longer-lasting bruises
• Raised, red scars

On the other hand, I realize how addicting smoking is and that you may be in some discomfort. You can’t use Nicorette because it also contains nicotine but you can get a prescription for Chantix or Wellbutrin.

That’s why I applaud efforts of plastic surgeons around the nation who actually use carrots, and fewer sticks, to provide additional motivation to giving up the habit, at least long enough to allow for a good outcome to your surgery.

For instance, one board-certified New England plastic surgeon offers fee discounts for patients who give up smoking permanently and lose weight. And it’s all on the record – patients there must submit urine samples before surgery!

A California plastic surgeon, Darshan Shaw, M.D. was featured in our local newspaper, The New York Times, when he started offering non-smoking prescriptions to patients who could only have their surgery after permanently giving up the habit for good.

That creates more healthy patients and a better-than-average-shot at an excellent outcome to rejuvenation surgery.