Can Smoking Affect Results After Rhinoplasty?

I am 17 days post up after having a crooked nose straightened. Can smoking this soon possibly make my nose crooked or cause movement again somehow by the effects of the smoke?

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by nickskep

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Smoking and nose surgery

Great question! Cigarettes contain nicotine which is a powerful vasoconstrictor. This means the chemical chokes all of your blood vessels in your body. Decreased blood supply means potentially delayed or poor healing and will increase your risk of infection, wound break down and possible need for additional surgery. Our minimum recommendation for patients who smoke is to stop smoking at least 4 weeks before surgery and resume (hopefully never!) 4 weeks after surgery. Please note... more

Smoking and results of rhinoplasty

Smoking itself will probably not directly cause any movement in the structure of your nose, effecting the results of your rhinoplasty. However, smoking always effects the healing process which could indirectly effect your results. For example, it could cause one side to heal with more scar tissue or could effect the soft tissues which could change the results. If you've gone 17 days without smoking, why not just hold off a little bit longer to avoid the risk of complications. Best regards... more

Smoking cigarettes after surgery slows healing process

Smoking cigarettes after the rhinoplasty will not make your nose crooked or cause movement due to any affects of smoke on the nasal tissues. It also certainly does not help the healing process and the best idea is to quit smoking.

Smoking and its effect after rhinoplasty

Smoking will not make a straight nose crooked nor will it cause the nose tomove or deviate following surgery. Nevertheless, smoking does alter blood supply and diminish oxygenation to local tissues that may affect surgical healing with any surgical procedure. Smoking is terrible and is a serious health risk. Accordingly, I do not condone smoking in any circumstance.

Smoking and cosmetic rhinoplasty surgery

We insist that patients stop smoking before cosmetic surgery because blood suppply is so important for healing! This is especially true with "open rhinoplasty"; however, I doubt that smoking will cause your nose to become "crooked" again after 17 days of healing. The "straightening surgery" depends more on internal structural realignment of nasal cartilages than anything else...not enviornmental factors.

Delayed healing in smokers

I agree with the rest of the panel that smoking is detrimental in the immediate post op period, especially in patients who have had an open rhinoplasty. The problem after the fact is it may delay resolution of swelling so I would lay off the cigarettes as long as you can and quit if possible.

Smoking and cosmetic surgery

Smoking prior to and immediately after cosmetic surgery of any kind is unwise. Cigarette smoke causes blood vessels to constrict, blood to flow more slowly, impairs the body's ability to fight infection and limits oxygen delivery to the healing tissues because of the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke. This alone should be enough to make you stop smoking for good! Smoking has obvious cancer causing risks as well as significantly accelerates the skin's aging rate. Remember, you did this... more

Smoking After Rhinoplasty Can Be Harmful

Smoking can seriously effect the healing after any surgery. In rhinoplasty the first week is crucial. Smoking during that time can cause skin break down and loss of skin of the nose which can cause permanent disfigurement. This is more risky after revision rhinoplasty. After one month of healing if the nose is doing well, smoking is less likely to cause any serious harm other than drying out the nose, sneezing, bleeding and obstruction. While you are off the smoking, why not just... more

Smoking and rhinoplasty healing

Smoking itself should not make the nasal bones or cartilage move, but it can impair wound healing. For this reason, we strongly advise patients to stop smoking for at least 3 weeks before and after surgery. If you can stay off cigarettes after this time, so much the better. Good luck, /nsn.

Smoking and rhinoplasty results

The smoking will not move any structures but may impair healing which can result in less than favorable results and cause one side to heal with more scar tissue than the other side. This in turn may cause deviation of the tip.