Stop Smoking for Plastic Surgery

02 Oct Stop Smoking for Plastic Surgery

Risks of Smoking before and after Plastic Surgery

As you consider plastic surgery, you might be focused on the changes ahead and the results you desire. However, there’s an important step you need to take before your procedure that can impact your results: quitting smoking. Giving up cigarettes can be challenging, but it’s an essential part of your surgical journey.

Smoking and plastic surgery are a dangerous combination. The chemicals in tobacco smoke can interfere with your body’s healing processes, increase the risk of complications, and ultimately compromise the quality of your surgical results. That’s why Dr. Guy Watts strongly advises all patients who smoke to quit before their procedure.

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Benefits of Quitting Smoking

When you decide to quit smoking in preparation for your plastic surgery, you’re not just improving your chances of a successful procedure – you’re giving your entire body a chance to heal and rejuvenate. Here are some potential benefits you’ll experience when you put down those cigarettes:

Improved Healing and Recovery

One of the benefits of quitting smoking before your plastic surgery is the improvement in your body’s ability to heal. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of harmful chemicals that interfere with your body’s natural healing processes. When you quit, you’ll notice:

• Faster wound healing: Your incisions will close more quickly, reducing the risk of infection and improving the appearance of your scars.
• Better blood circulation: Without the constricting effects of nicotine, your blood vessels can deliver more oxygen and nutrients to healing tissues.
• Increased collagen production: Your body will be better able to produce collagen, a crucial protein for skin elasticity and wound healing.

Better Surgical Outcomes

By quitting smoking, you’re setting yourself up for the optimal results from your plastic surgery. Here’s how:

• Enhanced skin quality: Your skin can become more elastic and better hydrated.
• Improved fat graft survival: If your procedure involves fat grafting, quitting smoking can increase the survival rate of transferred fat cells.
• More predictable results: Without the interference of smoking-related complications, your surgeon can more accurately predict and achieve your desired outcome.

Reduced Risk of Complications

Quitting smoking lowers your risk of experiencing complications during and after your surgery. You’ll benefit from:

• Lower anaesthesia risks: Non-smokers typically require less anaesthesia and experience fewer side effects.
• Decreased risk of blood clots: Smoking increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other blood clotting issues. Quitting reduces this risk significantly.
• Improved immune function: Your body will be better equipped to fight off potential infections.

Overall Health Improvements

While your focus may be on your upcoming surgery, quitting smoking offers many health benefits that extend far beyond your procedure:

• Improved lung function: You’ll notice easier breathing and increased stamina within weeks of quitting.
• Better cardiovascular health: Your risk of heart disease and stroke begins to decrease almost immediately after your last cigarette.
• Enhanced sense of taste and smell: Food will taste better, and you’ll be more sensitive to pleasant scents around you.

Financial Benefits

Let’s not forget the impact on your wallet! Quitting smoking can save you a considerable amount of money. Consider putting aside the money you would have spent on cigarettes to treat yourself to something special after your recovery.

Risks of Smoking before and after Plastic Surgery

While we’ve discussed the many benefits of quitting smoking, it’s equally important to understand the risks associated with continuing to smoke before and after your plastic surgery.

Delayed Wound Healing

One of the most important risks of smoking in relation to plastic surgery is delayed wound healing. Smoking impairs your body’s ability to repair itself in several ways:

• Reduced blood flow: Nicotine causes blood vessels to constrict, limiting the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach your healing tissues.
• Decreased collagen production: Smoking interferes with collagen synthesis, an essential component of wound healing and skin elasticity.
• Impaired immune function: The chemicals in cigarette smoke can weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections and heal properly.

These factors can lead to slower healing, wider and more noticeable scars, and an increased risk of wound breakdown or dehiscence (separation of the wound edges).

Increased Infection Risk

Smokers are at a higher risk of developing infections after surgery. This is due to:

• Compromised immune system: Smoking weakens your body’s natural defences against bacteria and other pathogens.
• Poor circulation: Reduced blood flow to the surgical site means fewer white blood cells can reach the area to fight off potential infections.
• Increased bacterial growth: Some studies suggest that smoking may actually promote the growth of certain harmful bacteria.

An infection can significantly delay your recovery, lead to additional treatments or procedures, and in severe cases, compromise your surgical results.

Poor Scarring

If you’re undergoing plastic surgery, you’re likely concerned about the appearance of your scars. Smoking can negatively impact scar formation in several ways:

• Reduced collagen production: This can lead to thinner, weaker scars that are more prone to stretching or widening over time.
• Impaired blood supply: Poor circulation can result in less healthy scar tissue formation.
• Increased tension on wound edges: Coughing, which is more common in smokers, can put extra strain on your incisions.

These factors can lead to wider, more noticeable scars that may require additional treatments to change their appearance.

Skin Necrosis

One of the most severe complications associated with smoking and plastic surgery is skin necrosis – the death of skin and other tissues. This occurs due to:

• Severe reduction in blood flow: The vasoconstriction caused by nicotine can be so extreme that it cuts off the blood supply to certain areas, particularly in procedures that involve lifting or repositioning of skin flaps.
• Impaired oxygen delivery: Even if blood flow isn’t completely cut off, the reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of a smoker’s blood can starve tissues of necessary oxygen.

Skin necrosis can lead to wound healing problems, the need for additional surgeries, and in extreme cases, loss of the operated area.

Anaesthesia Complications

Smoking increases your risk of complications related to anaesthesia:

• Respiratory issues: Smokers are more likely to experience breathing problems during and after surgery, including pneumonia.
• Increased anaesthesia requirements: Smokers often need higher doses of anaesthesia, which can increase the risk of side effects.
• Longer recovery time: It may take longer for you to wake up from anaesthesia and you may experience more nausea and vomiting.

Compromised Results

All of these risks combine to potentially compromise your final results. You may experience:

• Asymmetry: Uneven healing can lead to asymmetrical results, particularly in procedures like breast surgery or facial procedures.
• Need for revision surgery: Complications may necessitate additional procedures to correct issues or improve results.
• Dissatisfaction with outcomes: The overall quality of your results may not meet your expectations due to smoking-related complications.

Long-term Effects

Even after you’ve healed from surgery, continuing to smoke can have ongoing negative effects:

• Accelerated ageing: Smoking speeds up the skin ageing process, potentially undoing the effects of your cosmetic procedure more quickly.
• Increased cancer risk: Smoking significantly increases your risk of various cancers, including skin cancer.

When to Stop Smoking before Your Plastic Surgery

Timing matters when it comes to quitting smoking before your plastic surgery. While it’s always beneficial to quit as soon as possible, there are specific timeframes that can improve your surgical outcomes and reduce risks.

Generally, Dr. Watts advises his patients to stop smoking at least 3-6 months before their scheduled surgery date. This period allows your body to begin recovering from the effects of long-term smoking and provides several benefits:

• Improved blood flow: After about two weeks without nicotine, your circulation begins to improve noticeably.
• Better lung function: Within a month of quitting, your lung function can increase by up to 30%.
• Normalised carbon monoxide levels: In just 12 hours after your last cigarette, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
• Enhanced immune function: Your immune system starts to recover, reducing your risk of post-operative infections.

Maintaining Cessation after Surgery

It’s equally important to remain smoke-free after your procedure. The healing process continues long after you leave the operating theatre, and smoking can interfere with this recovery period. Dr. Watts recommends staying smoke-free for at least 4-6 weeks post-surgery, but ideally, this could be the start of a permanent change.

Continuing to abstain from smoking after your surgery will:

• Support optimal healing of your incisions
• Reduce the risk of complications like infection or skin necrosis
• Help maintain the quality of your results over time

Resources for Quitting

Quitting smoking is a big challenge, but you don’t have to face it alone. There are many resources available in Perth and online to support you on your journey to becoming smoke-free. Here are some options to help you quit smoking before your plastic surgery:

Smoking Cessation Programs

Perth offers several programs to help you quit smoking:

• Quitline WA: Call 13 7848 for free, confidential counselling and support. Their trained advisors can help you create a personalised quit plan.
• Make Smoking History: This Western Australian initiative provides resources and support for quitting smoking. Visit makesmokinghistory.org.au for information and tools.
• Cancer Council WA: Offers various quit smoking services, including support groups and online resources. Visit cancerwa.asn.au for more information.

Mobile Apps and Online Tools

Digital tools can offer support and tracking to help you quit:

• My QuitBuddy: A free app developed by the Australian Government to help you quit smoking. Available on iOS and Android.
• QuitCoach: An online tool that provides personalised advice based on your smoking habits and quitting goals.
• Smoke Free: This app tracks your progress, money saved, and health improvements as you quit smoking.

Healthcare Professional Support

Don’t hesitate to seek help from healthcare professionals:

• Your GP can provide personalised advice and may prescribe medications to help you quit.
• Local pharmacists can advise on over-the-counter quit smoking aids.

Community Health Centres

Perth’s community health centres often offer quit smoking services:

• North Metropolitan Health Service
• South Metropolitan Health Service
• East Metropolitan Health Service

Contact your nearest centre for information on available programs.

Alternative Therapies

Some people find success with alternative approaches:

• Hypnotherapy: While scientific evidence is mixed, some individuals find hypnotherapy helpful. Look for registered hypnotherapists in Perth.
• Acupuncture: Certain acupuncture techniques may help manage cravings. The Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association can help you find a practitioner in Perth.

FAQs about Smoking and Plastic Surgery

Can I use e-cigarettes or vape instead of smoking before my plastic surgery?

• While e-cigarettes and vaping may seem like a safer alternative, they still contain nicotine which can interfere with healing and increase surgical risks. Dr. Watts recommends avoiding all nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, before and after your surgery.

If I’ve been a heavy smoker for years, will quitting just before surgery really make a difference?

• Yes, absolutely! Your body begins to heal and repair itself very quickly after you quit smoking. Even if you’ve been a long-term smoker, quitting before surgery can improve your circulation, lung function, and overall healing capacity. It’s never too late to experience the benefits of quitting.

Are there any specific plastic surgery procedures that are more affected by smoking than others?

• While smoking affects all surgeries, procedures that involve significant skin repositioning or flap techniques are particularly vulnerable. These include facelift, breast lift, tummy tuck – abdominoplasty, and others. Procedures involving the nipples, such as breast reduction or nipple reconstruction, are also at higher risk due to the delicate blood supply in these areas.

If I use nicotine patches to quit smoking, will this affect my surgery?

• While nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) like patches are generally safer than smoking, they still deliver nicotine to your system. Ideally, you should be completely nicotine-free before surgery. If you’re using NRT, discuss this with your surgeon well in advance.

How soon after surgery can I resume smoking without risking my results?

• While we strongly encourage permanent smoking cessation, if you do plan to resume, it’s important to wait until you’re fully healed. This typically means at least 6-8 weeks post-surgery, but it can vary depending on the specific procedure and your individual healing progress. However, remember that smoking can continue to affect your results and overall health even after you’ve healed from surgery.

Further Reading about Surgery with Perth Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr. Guy Watts

• Read Dr. Watts’ Day of Your Surgery Page
• Read Dr. Watts’ Risks of Surgery Page
• Read Dr. Watts’ Recovery after Surgery Page
• Read Dr. Watts’ Pre Procedure Preparation Page
• Read Dr. Watts’ FAQs Page

Medical References for Smoking and Plastic Surgery

• How nicotine sabotages plastic surgery
• How do diet and smoking affect plastic surgery recovery?
• A Procedure and Complication-Specific Assessment of Smoking in Aesthetic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
• Current evidence on the role of smoking in plastic surgery elective procedures
• The Effect of Smoking in the Cosmetic Surgery Population: Analysis of 129,007 Patients