Why are patients encouraged to stop smoking before getting plastic surgery?
Smokers are generally asked to stop smoking two weeks before surgery because smoking interferes with the healing process. Patients who smoke are known to have more complications both during and after operations. Nicotine closes the blood vessels responsible for bringing oxygenated blood to the tissues. In addition to its healing power, oxygen also fights infection and helps to keep tissue alive, as well as being instrumental in delivering important medications like antibiotics. Furthermore, smoking clogs the lungs, and thus increases risk of pulmonary infection such as pneumonia.
