Study Shows Risk of Smoking and Surgery
As reported by the American Society for Plastic Surgery, 11.5 million cosmetic procedures were done in 2006 alone. Not only are more people going under the knife to enhance and alter their bodies, but they’re also contacting their plastic surgeons to perfect one of their most looked at features, their mouths.
Thinking Before Inhaling
As if there aren’t already a thousand reasons why people should quit smoking, and think twice before starting, a new report issued by the Journal of Periodontology has given us yet another.
According to a recent study, individuals who smoke have had less desirable long term results post periodontal surgery, than non-smokers. So smokers beware before entering the operating room in hopes of a better smile, the results may not last as long as you’d like.
Study Shows Another Risk of Smoking
Researchers conducted a study that followed 10 smokers and 10 non-smokers over a two-year period and evaluated the effects of cigarette smoke on the long-term outcomes of oral surgeries.
The study showed that after two years, the patients who had a smoking history showed increased gum recession around the areas that were operated on.
Smokers Beware
In conducting this study, researchers found that people who smoke have a greater risk of their oral surgeries not being effective long term. They claim that many of the patients they studied were forced to go in for repeat surgeries.
Whether you’re having your wisdom teeth pulled, getting chin surgery or simply going in for some dental work, the study concludes that if you’re a smoker the surgery won’t go as smoothly as it should.
Smoking before having an operation could also potentially cause longer recovery times, and a need for another operation.
So when your surgeons advises you to throw away that pack of Camels prior to entering the operating room, they’re not trying to rain on your nicotine parade. On the contrary, they’re attempting to prevent you from having to make yet another appointment to spend more of your hard earned cash on another surgery.
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October 11th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Smoking… it’s the hot button issue these days, although it seems that obesity is sneaking up on it. I’m about to have rhinoplasty in New York, so i’ve been doing a lot of reading lately about the procedure, especially the risks and recovery. I’ve also been reading a lot on blogs about whether or not smoking contributes to the sings of aging on the skin. To me (yes, I smoke), it’s an obvious yes. Of course it does… just like how what you eat and drink (alcohol) affects how your skin looks, and if you get enough sleep… and if you’re an especially stressful person. Lifestyle affects how you look. Anwya, about the smoking, I have to quit several weeks before my rhinoplasty, and will need to refrain from smoking for a period after the procedure. My hope is that I can quit ever before I’m supposed to for surgery and then stay quit. Getting a “nose job” will, I have no doubt, improve how i look… quitting smoking will hopefully improve how I live… and how long!