Many scientists agree on the dangers and negative health effects of smoking. However, it appears to be even more harmful during surgery, especially in the weeks leading up to the procedure. It is strongly recommended to quit smoking when you are planning a cosmetic procedure. The effects of tobacco on surgery are multiple and can lead to major scar complications, but also increase the risks of infections of implantable materials.
Discover : Cosmetic Surgery Tunisia: Why is Tunisia a destination of choice for cosmetic surgery?
Why quit smoking before surgery?
Smoking increases the risk of surgical complications. These complications generally increase the length of hospital stay for smokers. Among the complications that are promoted by tobacco, we note:
- Perioperative respiratory complications in operations performed under general anesthesia.
- Perioperative cardiovascular complications where inhaled carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen cyanide decrease the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
- Complications of healing are 6 times higher in smokers. Smoking increases blood sugar levels, which can slow down the healing process. In addition, nicotine reduces collagen production, which affects the quality of healing.
- Infectious complications hence the risk of infection of surgical wounds increases sixfold. Carbon monoxide weakens tissue oxygenation with poor blood microcirculation, while nicotine causes vasoconstriction of tissues and further reduces oxygen supply.
- Bone consolidation disorders can be generated which increases the risk of pseudarthrosis which is the absence of bone consolidation.
- Increased pain and inflammation where smokers are forced to receive higher doses of anesthetics since tobacco accelerates their metabolism by the liver.
Why avoid smoking before cosmetic surgery?
Consequences on tissues
The consumption of tobacco It impairs the regeneration of skin tissue, causing faster aging and the appearance of dark spots. Smoking can prematurely age a person's face for three reasons. The first reason is that blood flow increases free radicals. The second reason is that it decreases skin elasticity, causing sagging and wrinkling of the skin. The third reason is that the repetitive wrinkling action of smoking causes perioral wrinkles.
NB: Due to the effects of the tobacco, interventions aimed at improving the appearance of tissues such as the injection of fillers may prove to be less effective or even completely ineffective.
Consequences on healing
As is the case with any operation, the action of the tobacco can significantly impair the healing capacity of tissues, making the result much less harmonious and even quite unsightly.
Serious complications
The consumption of tobacco has serious consequences and complications on the human body such as phlebitis which can be complicated by a pulmonary embolism.
The main causes of these complications are the two substances contained in cigarettes: carbon monoxide and nicotine. These two substances impair blood circulation by spamming the microvessels. They thus block the nutrient supply essential for repairing skin lesions. This reduces the activity of white blood cells, which are essential for the immune response during the inflammatory phase of healing.
When exactly should you quit smoking?
In short, before any surgical procedure, it is strongly recommended to avoid the ingestion of tobaccoIn addition to presenting a risk to human health in general, tobacco is also considered a major factor in surgical risk.
Le tobacco can promote the occurrence of complications during cosmetic surgery and in the days that follow.
The patient who chooses to completely stop smoking without using nicotine-containing derivatives such as an electronic cigarette or patches, before the scheduled date of their intervention can considerably reduce the risks that may be incurred and even eliminate them completely. Moreover, it is strongly recommended to stop smoking before an operation and even not to resume after the operation for as long as possible. As a general rule, one month before the cosmetic surgery procedure, the patient must stop smoking. tobaccoThere are some surgeons who are more strict, requiring a 6-week break before the operation.
Read also : Surgery in Tunisia: everything you need to know from A to Z
If you have difficulty quitting smoking, you can abstain from smoking for three weeks. This may increase your risk a little, but it's still acceptable. If quitting proves more difficult than expected, you're advised not to smoke at all for 3 hours before surgery.