You know smoking is bad for you. I know smoking is bad for you. But this blog is why you need to care about that when you choose to do a surgery, particularly a flap based surgery like a tummy tuck, facelift, breast lift, or breast reduction.
Why?
Studies show your rate of complications and healing issues is higher when you smoke.
- One study showed 47.9% rate of wound healing issues in tummy tuck patients who smoked (vs. 14.8% in nonsmokers)
- Another study showed facelift patients who smoke are 12.5 x more likely to have skin flaps die.
- Another study showed breast reconstruction patients with a higher rate of loss of mastectomy skin flaps, abdominal healing issues and hernias (in TRAM patients)
What is it about smoking?
Tobacco smoke is a mix of particulate matter, acids, and gases. This next part may sound too confusing to read, but just look at the number of issues it causes for your body when it is trying to heal.
- It enhances Thromboxane A2, and stimulates catecholamine release —> which impedes blood supply to the subdermal plexus
- It increases carboxyhemoglobin levels —> This reduces the oxygen carrying capacity because of carbon monoxide. Your body needs oxygen to heal, fight infection, and scar well.
- It decreases prostacyclin
- Increases platelet aggregation and viscocity—> you form blood clots, which can prevent blood flow to critical areas
- Decreased red blood cell deformability
- Increased fibrinogen production
- Decreased white blood cell function
In English? It increases your risk for blood clots and impairs wound healing. This leads to dead skin flaps, dead nipples, increased risk of infection, wound healing problems, and worse scarring.
How long do you need to stop smoking for?
At least 4 weeks. And no cheating!!
When you do cosmetic elective surgery, it is all about having a safe, boring surgery and then how pretty things are once you are healed. Why risk it? Why increase your chance of having an issue?