I had a breast lift 8 days ago and now there is dead tissue under my left nipple. My doctor is going to remove the dead tissue & restitch me up. I heard this is very uncommon but that it happens to smokers. I do not smoke cigarettes but I do smoke marijuana. Could this have caused the dead tissue?
Answer: Re: Smoking and tissue loss after breast lift Hello,Thank you for your question, and attached images.The problem with smoking and wound healing is profound. When inhaling the products created from the combustion of either tobacco, or other, you are taking in carcinogenic chemicals, and carbon monoxide to name a few.The carbon monoxide attaches to the red blood cells permanently, and does not allow oxygen delivery by that red blood cell to the tissue. The tissue that is healing from surgery is highly metabolic and needs profuse oxygenation; more than uninjured tissue. Additionally, the nicotine absorbed if tobacco is used, causes vasoconstriction of the blood vessels- this also limits oxygen delivery by the restricted blood flow to the tissue.I hope this helps.Thank you,S.P. Maggi, MD, FACSdrmaggi.comAustin Plastic Surgery Center
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Answer: Re: Smoking and tissue loss after breast lift Hello,Thank you for your question, and attached images.The problem with smoking and wound healing is profound. When inhaling the products created from the combustion of either tobacco, or other, you are taking in carcinogenic chemicals, and carbon monoxide to name a few.The carbon monoxide attaches to the red blood cells permanently, and does not allow oxygen delivery by that red blood cell to the tissue. The tissue that is healing from surgery is highly metabolic and needs profuse oxygenation; more than uninjured tissue. Additionally, the nicotine absorbed if tobacco is used, causes vasoconstriction of the blood vessels- this also limits oxygen delivery by the restricted blood flow to the tissue.I hope this helps.Thank you,S.P. Maggi, MD, FACSdrmaggi.comAustin Plastic Surgery Center
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
July 31, 2014
Answer: I do not smoke cigarettes, but I do smoke marijuana. Could this have caused the dead tissue under my nipple? Hello! Thank you for your question! The issue with nicotine or any inhalant is that it
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July 31, 2014
Answer: I do not smoke cigarettes, but I do smoke marijuana. Could this have caused the dead tissue under my nipple? Hello! Thank you for your question! The issue with nicotine or any inhalant is that it
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June 3, 2014
Answer: Tissue loss and smoking When you undergo a breast lift, there is always risk of tissue loss whether you smoke or not. You need to allow the wound to heal and see what things look like. You may need a revision in the future bit should provably wait about six months.
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June 3, 2014
Answer: Tissue loss and smoking When you undergo a breast lift, there is always risk of tissue loss whether you smoke or not. You need to allow the wound to heal and see what things look like. You may need a revision in the future bit should provably wait about six months.
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June 4, 2014
Answer: Marijuana and plastic surgery Marijuana cigarettes are bad for healing, particularly with facial, abdominal or breast surgery. I've seen the effects firsthand. I'm not sure how ingestible cannabis would affect healing but I would not take the chance. By its nature, plastic surgery takes tissues to the edge of their biologic capabilities. Some things, such as smoking (including cannabis) can push the tissues over the edge and patients can get tissue necrosis, poor scarring, etc.
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June 4, 2014
Answer: Marijuana and plastic surgery Marijuana cigarettes are bad for healing, particularly with facial, abdominal or breast surgery. I've seen the effects firsthand. I'm not sure how ingestible cannabis would affect healing but I would not take the chance. By its nature, plastic surgery takes tissues to the edge of their biologic capabilities. Some things, such as smoking (including cannabis) can push the tissues over the edge and patients can get tissue necrosis, poor scarring, etc.
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Answer: Marijuana and surgery Here are the major points of smoking Tobacco or Marijuana before or after surgery:1. There is nicotine in tobacco, but not in marijuana. However, most joints are rolled with marijuana and tobacco combination. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that decreases blood flow to the tissues. This is the major problems that can cause a very bad outcome in some surgeries. In a breast augmentation, there is not a lot of risk as there are not a lot of incisions which decrease blood flow to the tissues. In a breast lift or tummy tuck, on the other hand, there is much longer and more involved incisions. The decrease in blood flow to the tissues in combination with the decrease in blood flow from the nicotine can cause tissue to die. This can cause part of the breast or nipple, or in the case of a tummy tuck, part of the belly tissue to die, resulting in a very bad outcome. Marijuana without tobacco does not cause this problem, or marijuana in an edible fashion.2. There is carbon monoxide in both tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke. Carbon monoxide decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin in the blood. This is different from the vasoconstrictor effect, but has the same result of having the risk of tissue death in conjunction with surgeries that decrease the blood flow to tissues such as breast lifts and tummy tucks, as opposed to an augmentation alone that does not decrease blood flow to as great of an extent. Again, edible forms of marijuana do not have smoke, and thus carbon monoxide poisoning.3. Coughing. Both tobacco and marijuana smoke disrupt the lining of the lungs and bronchi and can lead to coughing episodes. Coughing episodes can lead to internal bleeding after surgery that can lead to hematomas and complications, and again a bad outcome. Again, edible forms of marijuana does not have this effect.4. Anesthesia effects. Marijuana can have drug interactions with certain anesthetic drugs. Thus it is important to tell your anesthesiologist about your marijuana use.In conclusion, Smoking, whether it be tobacco or marijuana, is detrimental to your surgery outcome. Edible marijuana is much less so, but be honest about your use with your surgeon and anesthesiologist so that you can have the best outcome.Best wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
Answer: Marijuana and surgery Here are the major points of smoking Tobacco or Marijuana before or after surgery:1. There is nicotine in tobacco, but not in marijuana. However, most joints are rolled with marijuana and tobacco combination. Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor that decreases blood flow to the tissues. This is the major problems that can cause a very bad outcome in some surgeries. In a breast augmentation, there is not a lot of risk as there are not a lot of incisions which decrease blood flow to the tissues. In a breast lift or tummy tuck, on the other hand, there is much longer and more involved incisions. The decrease in blood flow to the tissues in combination with the decrease in blood flow from the nicotine can cause tissue to die. This can cause part of the breast or nipple, or in the case of a tummy tuck, part of the belly tissue to die, resulting in a very bad outcome. Marijuana without tobacco does not cause this problem, or marijuana in an edible fashion.2. There is carbon monoxide in both tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke. Carbon monoxide decreases the oxygen carrying capacity of hemoglobin in the blood. This is different from the vasoconstrictor effect, but has the same result of having the risk of tissue death in conjunction with surgeries that decrease the blood flow to tissues such as breast lifts and tummy tucks, as opposed to an augmentation alone that does not decrease blood flow to as great of an extent. Again, edible forms of marijuana do not have smoke, and thus carbon monoxide poisoning.3. Coughing. Both tobacco and marijuana smoke disrupt the lining of the lungs and bronchi and can lead to coughing episodes. Coughing episodes can lead to internal bleeding after surgery that can lead to hematomas and complications, and again a bad outcome. Again, edible forms of marijuana does not have this effect.4. Anesthesia effects. Marijuana can have drug interactions with certain anesthetic drugs. Thus it is important to tell your anesthesiologist about your marijuana use.In conclusion, Smoking, whether it be tobacco or marijuana, is detrimental to your surgery outcome. Edible marijuana is much less so, but be honest about your use with your surgeon and anesthesiologist so that you can have the best outcome.Best wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD
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