Plastic surgery patients who smoke

How do plastic surgeons feel about operating on patients who smoke? Do plastic surgeons try and help patients quit? Are more doctors actively trying to get patients to stop smoking or offer smoking cessation programs or patches or thing like that?

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8 answers to “Plastic surgery patients who smoke”

A: What scientific literature tells about plastic surgery and smoking

By Hratch Karamanoukian, MD - Buffalo General surgeon

After careful examination of the scientific literature, I was able to find the following to have deleterious effects on wound healing and wound repair: 1. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that reduces nutritional blood flow to the skin, resulting in tissue ischemia and impaired healing of injured tissue.... more

A: Some cosmetic operations can be done safely on smokers

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

I am afraid I have a prejudice that people who smoke are not very smart. (I myself smoked two packs of Camels a day for fifteen years!) But the key is not to be judgemental. True nicotine addicts cannot help it, anyway. It's only about surgical safety. So it depends on the operation. Breast... more

A: Plastic surgeons are doctors of medicine first before...

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgeons are doctors of medicine first before they specialize in surgery. As such, the care of the whole patient is always their concern so efforts are directed at guiding their patients toward healthy lifestyle choices such as cessation of smoking, proper diet, exercise, and weight management.... more

A: Plastic Surgery may curb the smoking habit

By Julius W. Few, MD - Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Smoking tobacco of any kind puts the plastic surgery patient at risk for severe complications. The goal of any board certified plastic surgeon is to minimize risk to our patients, especially for elective cosmetic surgery. Most patients understand this fact and will work with me to stop smoking,... more

A: Butt Out! Why Risk Having Your Plastic Surgery Results Go Up In Smoke?

By Athleo Louis Cambre, MD - Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Every responsible Plastic Surgeon advises his patients to quit smoking at least three weeks before and two weeks after an anticipated surgical procedure. Ideally, patients should quit smoking entirely, or better still should never take up the habit in the first place. I find it confounding that... more

A: Smoking is a definite no no for surgery. I always review...

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Smoking is a definite no no for surgery. I always review this with patients. Patients that smoke have a significantly higher risk of complications as compared to those that do not.

A: Smoking and plastic surgery

By Daniel C. Mills, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

There is no question that when I am doing a flap of skin (tummy tuck, facelift, mastopexy or reduction of the breast), I require patients to stop smoking for three weeks before the procedure. The effects of smoking are almost gone in three weeks. Smoking introduces carbon monoxide into your system, which... more

A: Smoking cessation and cosmetic surgery

By Jennifer Walden, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Any patient who comes to me for elective, cosmetic surgery who smokes receives education on smoking cessation. Usually, the information and recommendations imparted to patients depends upon their medical status, the type of operation they are seeking, and their age. For example, a healthy 28-year-old woman for... more

Comments

Rod
42 posts
1 Aug 2008

the interesting thing i,ve noticed is that a great many doctors and dentists smoke,and so obviously they too have a struggle to quit,and i know its not easy. i never touch alcohol and yet the smoking ,ggggrrrrrr.!

Mary Lynn
1 post
3 Jul 2009

I have been a smoker for 40+ years, coming from a household of smokers. I am not stupid, as many of the articles written by the doctors would have you think. I began smoking when it was fashionable to do so, and was well addicted when it was decided that smoking was harmful to health. And over the past 5-7 years smoker-bashing has become fashionable. We are no longer the "in" people but portrayed as pathetic sociopaths that are performing criminal acts. This is just not true or fair. I have recently channeled my habit into non-nicotine cigarettes and then downward to nothing because I want/need Plastic surgery. It has not been easy by any means. But I will make it at least through my surgery and recovery! But I would really like a bit of support from anyone in the "professional" world rather than the feeling I should be totally disregarded as an impossible case. Anything is possible whether physicians believe it or not.

Amen1
unregistered guest

3 Jul 2009

Amen Mary Lynn Smoking moves from a choice to a need. It's evil, but the people who got marketed into smoking aren't bad at all. I too had to quit to undergo liposuction. It was extremely hard, but was fortunate to have a plastic surgeon (who smoked) didnt talk to me like a child or villain. He helped me get through the entire emotional expereince. I wish you well. You hang in there!

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