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Smokers and Plastic Surgery - Article
Smoking is associated with higher risk of complications after any surgery, including plastic surgery:
• Chemical substances in tobacco cause constriction of blood vessels. Good blood supply to tissues is essential for healing. Surgery in smokers is associated with delayed healing and sometimes necrosis
(death) of wound margins- which may take 6-8 weeks to heal.
• Certain surgeries like facelift, large breast reductions etc need to be modified to suit smokers- too extensive procedures are avoided for the fear of complications.
• Smokers are at higher risk from point of view of anaesthesia in view of their compromised lung function and their higher cardiac risk.
Plastic surgeons routinely advise the patients to stop smoking before surgery. Sooner its done better are the benefits. Nicotine patches and gum are available in the market to cut craving. Plastic surgery is a planned procedure. This can be a good chance for person to quit smoking for ever.
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