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Cosmetic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery and Smoking
It is universally accepted that smoking is bad for you and your health. Not only is it unequivocally associated with premature aging, both physiologically and in appearance, but also with an increased incidence of numerous diseases and cancers as well as a reduced quality of life. Smoking also significantly elevates the rate of complications and other untoward issues in several cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgical procedures.
For the more than 23 years that I have been practicing in the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas, I have been routinely informing and warning my smoking patients of the substantially elevated risks that smoking has on many surgical procedures and their outcomes. The chemicals in cigarettes cause a constriction (narrowing of the diameter) of the blood vessels in the tissues which results in a decreased blood supply to the tissues and therefore less of the vital oxygen and other nutrients important for cell survival and healing. For areas that have undergone surgery, this can directly translate into delayed or improper healing or worse – lack of survival of some tissues which may then require the need for corrective reconstructive procedures such as skin grafting.
Though I do make my patients aware of the risks that smoking has on their health and surgery, for certain procedures I do request and many times demand that they at least stop smoking for a specific period of time prior to their scheduled date because the impact from such smoking can be far more severe. The breast procedures at substantially higher risks for healing problems such as skin necrosis (where the skin turns black and dies) include primary (immediate) breast reconstruction, secondary breast reconstruction in those who have had radiation treatments, breast reductions and breast lifts.
Patients having these procedures are instructed to stop smoking starting one month prior to their surgery until at least two to four week postoperatively. It takes but a few cigarettes just prior to or after surgery to jeopardize the healing process. Chronic smokers who are able to stop smoking during this period of time do better than those who continue even at reduced levels.
To put this in even clearer perspective and provide additional motivation, I ask my patients whether it worth the prolonged healing time, expenses, inconveniences, compromised aesthetic results and the possible need for additional surgery just to continue smoking. Stated this way, most will make a serious effort to quit.
For more information on any plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a complimentary consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.
Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona