Why You Should Stop Smoking Before Your Facelift

Are you considering undergoing plastic surgery? Whether it’s a simple skin treatment or a facelift, here’s why you should stop smoking first.

One of the greatest factors in the success of a cosmetic procedure, whether it’s a facelift or liposuction, is the patient’s ability to recover fully afterwards. Taking the time to rest after your surgery is important because it will:

• Allow you to heal faster
• Promote better and more successful results
• Prevent you from straining your scars and causing them to become more visible
• Save you time, money and potential harm

Whether it’s a skin treatment or a more extensive surgery, it’s crucial to follow your plastic surgeon’s aftercare instructions to ensure that you are fully satisfied with the outcome of your treatment.

Cosmetic Surgery in Edmonton

Dr. Ladak offers customized anti-aging treatments, from facelifts to skin treatments including Juvederm and Botox, to help you safely and successfully achieve all your aesthetic goals.

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Why You Should Stop Smoking Before/After Plastic Surgery

If you are a smoker considering cosmetic surgery, your plastic surgeon will likely require you to stop smoking for AT LEAST two weeks before your procedure. This is because nicotine may affect your recovery in the following ways:

1. Smoking Increases Procedure-Related Risks

Smoking’s negative effect on the circulatory system and blood supply is well documented. Smokers who undergo surgeries such as facelifts or breast augmentation, have an increased risk of:

• Developing blood clots
• Contracting an infection
• Experiencing some form of oxygen shortage

In some cases, a patient’s risk stemming from long-term smoking may disqualify them from being able to undergo a cosmetic procedure.

2. Smoking Destroys Blood Circulation

During and after your cosmetic surgery, the effectiveness of the body’s blood supply is of utmost importance. A successful recovery is dependent on a healthy circulation because blood must be able to travel and supply nutrients to the sites which have been injured during surgery.

However, nicotine will:

• Constrict the small blood vessels, reducing the amount of oxygen in your cells
• Decrease blood flow throughout the body
• Increase levels of carbon monoxide, which robs the body of oxygen, an important component to wound healing

A compromised blood supply will result in the destruction of tissue and/or the inability to heal properly, leading to wound healing problems, or even in some cases, necrosis.

3. Smoking Increases Your Chances of Developing a Blood Clot

Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes make your blood stickier and much more likely to clot, thus clogging capillaries and blood vessels and diminishing blood flow to and from the operated area.

Not only will this compromise the results of your facelift or other cosmetic procedure, but it will also increase your risk of a DVT and other vascular diseases.

4 Tips For A Healthy Recovery From Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgery is an investment of your money, time and energy, and you want to make sure that your efforts pay off.

Apart from smoking cessation, here are 4 other tips you may want to consider to ensure you get the safest, most satisfactory results:

1. Follow a healthy diet and regular exercise routine after your cosmetic treatment to ensure you stay healthy and maintain your new look.  
2. Whether it’s about taking prescribed medication or when to resume daily activities, ALWAYS follow your plastic surgeon’s aftercare instructions
3. Drink water frequently to help replenish lost body fluids. Also, eat lightly for the first few days, and only food that is easy to swallow and digest.
4. Follow a good skin care routine after any cosmetic treatment to minimize the appearance of scars and help your results look better than ever.

Call Today

To find out more about our wide range of cosmetic surgeries and skin treatments, and how we can help you achieve the safest, most aesthetically pleasing results, contact Dr. Ladak at 780-407-6691 or use our online contact form below.

Dr. Adil Ladak is a board-certified plastic surgeon based in Edmonton, Alberta and specializes in a variety of cosmetic surgical and non-surgical procedures.