2 surgeons referred to nicotine in restricting blood vessels. This confused me, as the popularity for imitation cigarettes is becoming more popular in helping smokers to stop inhaling all the other more dangerous chemicals. Would a surgeon still refuse to perform a facelift on a woman who uses these inhalers but has stopped smoking cigarettes?
April 17, 2020
Answer: Nicotine and surgery Smoking combines the effect of nicotine that constricts the blood vessels and the effect of carbon monoxide that reduces the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to the tissues. This way it creates a combined negative impact on the healing tissues in particular when tension is also involved which reduces the blood flow. For this reason, the World Health Organisation has recently issued a statement indicating that their studies show a minimum of one month of stopping smoking before surgery is necessary to decrease its negative impact on healing.It becomes more difficult to know whether the same is applicable to nicotine in vaping, chewing gum or patches but it is fair to assume that at least part of the negatives of smoking would still be applicable still constriction of the blood vessels. The main issue here is related to the risk of creating irreversible damage in the skin versus the desire to continue using nicotine around the time of surgery. No surgeon wants to risk a poor result and in an elective intervention we try to minimise the risks not only related to nicotine but a multitude of other factors. It would be in your interest to exert your willpower and stop the risk factors that you can rather than to continue the inhalers and expect a lucky outcome.
Helpful
April 17, 2020
Answer: Nicotine and surgery Smoking combines the effect of nicotine that constricts the blood vessels and the effect of carbon monoxide that reduces the ability of the blood to transport oxygen to the tissues. This way it creates a combined negative impact on the healing tissues in particular when tension is also involved which reduces the blood flow. For this reason, the World Health Organisation has recently issued a statement indicating that their studies show a minimum of one month of stopping smoking before surgery is necessary to decrease its negative impact on healing.It becomes more difficult to know whether the same is applicable to nicotine in vaping, chewing gum or patches but it is fair to assume that at least part of the negatives of smoking would still be applicable still constriction of the blood vessels. The main issue here is related to the risk of creating irreversible damage in the skin versus the desire to continue using nicotine around the time of surgery. No surgeon wants to risk a poor result and in an elective intervention we try to minimise the risks not only related to nicotine but a multitude of other factors. It would be in your interest to exert your willpower and stop the risk factors that you can rather than to continue the inhalers and expect a lucky outcome.
Helpful
November 13, 2018
Answer: Nicotine and vasoconstriction Nicotine is the bane of facelifts, and any other surgery. The vasoconstriction is deadly to skin flaps, and increases the complication rate of any procedure. In ANY form, smoke, vapor, patch, chew, even second hand. I routinely test ALL my patients for nicotine, If they are positive I won't operate on them. I see it as my responsibility not to operate on nicotine positive patients, and we are all happier for that testing.Best,Dr Results
Helpful
November 13, 2018
Answer: Nicotine and vasoconstriction Nicotine is the bane of facelifts, and any other surgery. The vasoconstriction is deadly to skin flaps, and increases the complication rate of any procedure. In ANY form, smoke, vapor, patch, chew, even second hand. I routinely test ALL my patients for nicotine, If they are positive I won't operate on them. I see it as my responsibility not to operate on nicotine positive patients, and we are all happier for that testing.Best,Dr Results
Helpful
July 29, 2018
Answer: Nicotine & Facelift surgery Nicotine does constrict blood vessels, and, therefore could decrease the blood supply to the skin creating issues with healing. This is true whether the nicotine is coming from cigarettes, e-cigs devices, gum, patch and so on. Not every smoker will have problems healing, but there is certainly an increase in risk. I recommend that patients stop using nicotine for 3-4 weeks prior to facelift and often plan for treatments with hyperbaric oxygen after surgery to improve healing (if needed). Given the fact that this is a completely elective procedure, I do not recommend surgery on active smokers/nicotine users. I don't believe the risk is worth it - it's better to plan and postpone the surgery until you're ready.
Helpful
July 29, 2018
Answer: Nicotine & Facelift surgery Nicotine does constrict blood vessels, and, therefore could decrease the blood supply to the skin creating issues with healing. This is true whether the nicotine is coming from cigarettes, e-cigs devices, gum, patch and so on. Not every smoker will have problems healing, but there is certainly an increase in risk. I recommend that patients stop using nicotine for 3-4 weeks prior to facelift and often plan for treatments with hyperbaric oxygen after surgery to improve healing (if needed). Given the fact that this is a completely elective procedure, I do not recommend surgery on active smokers/nicotine users. I don't believe the risk is worth it - it's better to plan and postpone the surgery until you're ready.
Helpful
