Why is cigarette smoking detrimental?
Smoking interferes with the body’s healing process and also makes the administration of general anesthesia more difficult. Lifting procedures (tummy tucks, breast lifts and facelifts, etc.) can result in skin separation and poor wound healing due to compromised blood flow from tobacco. The overall healing process is generally slower and the final scars may be inferior in patients who smoke. Patients are strongly encouraged to stop smoking for at least one month before and after surgery to minimize the ill-effects of smoking.
