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The dangers of smoking are well documented, and you can’t buy a pack without a surgeon general’s warning. What are lesser-known are the other side effects of smoking that have nothing to do with lung cancer or other respiratory concerns. These effects can be incredibly dangerous for patients undergoing surgery.
For any patient planning for plastic surgery, it is imperative that you stop smoking at least six weeks before your operation and do not resume smoking for at least six weeks afterward.
Below are some effects cigarettes can have on your body and surgical procedure.
Increased Chances of Negative Reactions to General Anesthesia
Decreased Blood Flow During and After Surgery
Increased Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, Shock, and Death During Surgery
Increased Risk of Blood Clots During and After Surgery
Increased Risk of Tissue Necrosis
How Can Smoking Affect Your Plastic Surgery Procedure?
1. Increased Chances of Negative Reactions to General Anesthesia
Smoking damages your lungs, which makes it harder to breathe while under general anesthesia. This increases the risk of complications during surgery as the anesthesiologist must adjust anesthesia dosage on the fly.
Worse, because of restricted breathing, higher-risk medications and interventions may be needed to keep the patient breathing during surgery.
2. Decreased Blood Flow During and After Surgery
Nicotine restricts blood flow, making it harder for oxygen-carrying blood to get to where it needs to be. This can dramatically increase the risk of complications during surgery. Decreased blood flow can cause all manner of complications, many of which are defined in greater detail below.
The increased risks caused by smoking can be more dangerous when undergoing a body procedure such as body lift surgery, tummy tuck surgery, or liposuction treatments.
3. Increased Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke, Shock, and Death During Surgery
One of the main dangers of decreased blood flow is the increased risk of heart attacks and stroke. These conditions can be caused by a mix of restricted blood flow, increased blood pressure, and stress.
These conditions are potentially deadly. Smokers have died due to these complications while being operated on. These risks are the main reason why you should not smoke for six weeks before your surgery.
4. Increased Risk of Blood Clots During and After Surgery
Smoking increases the chances of blood clots developing during and after a surgical operation. This means that patients who smoke are at increased risk of serious complications even after surgery. Blood clots can cause all sorts of complications, including triggering a heart attack or stroke days after the surgery is complete.
5. Slower Rate of Healing
Even if you make it through the surgery without complications, it’s important that you do not resume smoking for six weeks after the operation. One of the major elements that healing tissues need to recover from surgery is oxygen. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream by making it harder for your lungs to absorb oxygen.
Worse, cigarettes prevent your blood from carrying as much oxygen by restricting your blood flow and adding carbon monoxide to your bloodstream (which inhibits your blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity).
Often, patients who smoke—even after the surgery is done—find their recovery from plastic surgery takes longer. This can be especially unpleasant when recovering from breast procedures like breast augmentation, breast lift surgery, or breast reduction surgery.
6. Increased Risk of Infection
Lack of oxygen in the bloodstream carries additional risks, including increased risk of infection. This can include infections on or around your surgical incisions but may also include pneumonia, which can further reduce your oxygen intake.
Recovery from plastic surgery is stressful enough without getting an infection on top of it.
7. Increased Risk of Tissue Necrosis
Cigarettes introduce several new risks to your recovery, many of which build on each other. One of the more dangerous potential complications that smoking makes more likely is tissue necrosis.
Tissue necrosis occurs when certain cells and tissues don’t get the oxygen and other nutrients they need to survive. When this happens, the tissues start dying, which releases a series of toxic compounds into the body.
Essentially, tissue necrosis is when parts of your body die and start to rot while trying to heal. Tissue necrosis is an incredibly dangerous condition that often requires additional surgery. By refraining from smoking, patients can dramatically reduce their risk of this condition occurring.
Interested in Learning More?
If you are interested in learning more about plastic surgery risk factors, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Bridges today by calling 318-219-8555 or filling out this online form.