Does smoking post rhinoplasty have any effect on the overall nose shape?

Question

*I am 7 months post op* I waited about 2 weeks after my rhinoplasty to start smoking cigarettes. I had stopped smoking 2 weeks before my surgery as well. I had read many different time frames for smoking after a rhinoplasty procedure. I am naturally an over-worrier. My question is, is smoking after rhinoplasty related to the healing/ scarring, or could it have had any effect on the overall shape of my nose, IE the shape of the tip?

Selcuk Inanli, MD · Answer

Hello! Thank you for your question.First of all smoking has many bad effects for the health, we all know this. Regarding the post-op period, it is really good that you stopped 2 weeks before surgery (it reduces the bleeding and anesthesia risks). It is also very good that you didn't smoke for at least 2 weeks post-op, because that is when your healing is the fastest. Smoking doesn't directly effect the nose shape, but it can effect your healing/scarring/recovery (make the whole post-op period slower).

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello !

Smoking after a rhinoplasty procedure can have negative effects on healing and scarring. Smoking causes decreased blood flow and oxygenation to the tissues, which can impair the body's ability to heal and lead to increased scarring.

Smoking can also potentially affect the overall shape of your nose. Nicotine and other harmful chemicals in cigarettes can cause tissue damage and inflammation, which can impact the healing process and potentially alter the shape of the nose, including the tip.

It's important to note that smoking can also increase the risk of infection after surgery, which can further impact the healing process and potentially affect the final outcome of your rhinoplasty.

If you're concerned about the effects of smoking on your rhinoplasty results, it's best to quit smoking entirely to promote the best possible healing and reduce the risk of complications. You should also talk to your plastic surgeon for personalized advice on post-operative care and any concerns you may have.

Best of luck !

Eric M. Joseph, MD · Answer

Unlike facelift surgery where there is definitely a high risk of skin necrosis in smokers, anecdotally, we have not seen issues. And I do not believe there are any studies that correlate smoking with poor rhinoplasty results because the nose is a very vascular organ.. That said - best to quit! Dr Joseph

Thomas Spalla, MD · Answer

Smoking around the time of healing can impair your body's ability to heal, because the blood vessel constriction induced by smoking decreases the oxygen and nutrient delivery to the recipient tissues.

Therefore, any amount of smoking is never recommended around the time of surgery.

If you can stop smoking, by all means, please do so. There are no positive health benefits for you whatsoever. It's never too late to stop.

Have a follow-up appointment with your rhinoplasty surgeon to take some pictures and compare these to your preoperative photos as well as your postoperative progression.
This will likely give you the reassurance you need in this situation.

Cengizhan Ekizceli, MD · Answer

Thank you so much for your question! Yes, smoking after rhinoplasty may have a negative effect on the overall healing process of the nose. In addition, smoking may also affect the appearance of the nose after rhinoplasty. It is possible that smoking may cause the skin to age prematurely, making it more difficult for the skin to conform to the new shape of the nose. This can result in a less desirable cosmetic outcome. Take into consideration that this may not be always be a case. Hope it helps!

Does smoking post rhinoplasty have any effect on the overall nose shape?

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