Planning a breast augmentation procedure? It’s important to make any lifestyle changes necessary to ensure that you’re a good candidate for surgery and to give yourself the best chance at a smooth recovery. Should you quit smoking before having breast augmentation? What about vaping?
Why You Should Quit Smoking before Breast Augmentation
If you smoke, you may already have been advised to stop in preparation for your plastic surgery. This is because smoking introduces a number of risks for complications during both surgery and recovery. These risks include:
- A decrease in circulation. Poor blood flow due to constricted blood vessels can hinder your healing process. Your body needs healthy blood flow to repair damage at your incision sites.
- Negative drug interactions. The nicotine in cigarettes can affect how well your medications work.
- Decreased oxygen supply. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke can lead to low oxygen levels in your bloodstream. This can cause dangerous breathing complications during surgery.
Is Vaping the Answer?
Vaping has been touted as a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes, but is it really? These claims come from the fact that e-cigarettes do not contain any tobacco or produce carbon monoxide-laden smoke. While these things might make vaping slightly better for you than cigarette smoking, there are still legitimate health concerns that come with vaping.
When you vape, you are ingesting similar levels of nicotine as you would from cigarettes. Nicotine can increase the risk of blood clots and dangerous drug interactions, and it can slow down your overall healing process. That’s why most plastic surgeons won’t operate on a person who is currently using e-cigarettes. Give up the unhealthy habits now so you can enjoy all the great benefits of a breast augmentation later!
Dr. Lee B. Daniel is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and General Surgery. He is a member of numerous societies including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
