How Smoking Affects the Appearance
Facial plastic surgery can minimize the signs of aging and balance out your facial features. Dr. Christopher Hove is a board-certified facial plastic surgeon who focuses his plastic surgery expertise on the eyes, brow, nose, chin, and other important facial features.
Smoking has damaging effects on the skin. At Dr. Hove’s practice in Philadelphia, PA, we want patients to have a clear understanding of the relationship between smoking and skin damage before undergoing facial plastic surgery. Read on to learn more about how smoking affects your appearance.
Can Smokers Undergo Facial Plastic Surgery?
Smoking is more than a cosmetic concern. Tobacco use complicates recovery following any surgical procedure. Smoking weakens the immune system and restricts blood flow. Patients who smoke after surgery are at greater risk of complications and infections. Smoking also increases the appearance of scarring.
For these reasons, many surgeons require that patients refrain from smoking for a period of time before and after surgery. If you are a smoker, Dr. Hove will discuss your plastic surgery options during your consultation at our Philadelphia practice. Light smokers generally find it easy to refrain from smoking during recovery.
All tobacco use is harmful to your health. Quitting smoking is your best bet for enjoying all the benefits of facial cosmetic surgery.
Smoking after Recovery
Even when patients refrain from smoking during recovery, resuming the habit can undermine many of the cosmetic benefits of facial cosmetic surgery. Many of the surgical procedures that Dr. Hove performs address skin laxity and sagging. Smoking accelerates the aging process, and the results are especially noticeable on the face.
Advanced Aging and Smoking
Smoking causes premature wrinkles and is damaging to the skin for two main reasons. One, nicotine restricts blood flow, which deprives your skin of oxygen and nutrients.
In addition, there are more than 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. Many of these chemicals damage collagen and elastin, which give your skin elasticity and strength. The degree of aging can be affected by how long you’ve smoked and how heavily you smoke.
Worried about Your Appearance? Consider Quitting Smoking
Quitting smoking is difficult, but there are many good resources available that can help. Beyond seeking help through support groups or cognitive behavioral therapy, online resources include:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- American Cancer Society
- Smokefree.gov
There’s no one path to quitting smoking. If you have struggled to cut the habit, Dr. Hove can provide you with reliable advice. The team at Hove Center for Facial Plastic Surgery believes that a beautiful face results from a healthy lifestyle and conservative cosmetic interventions when needed. Quitting smoking can be your best bet for preventing wrinkles and other undesirable cosmetic issues.
Rejuvenate Your Face Through Facial Plastic Surgery
No matter what your past or current tobacco use history, we welcome you to explore the facial plastic surgery options at our office. We also offer a wide range of non-surgical facial rejuvenation treatments.
To schedule your next visit, please contact our office online or call us in Philadelphia at (610) 647-3727.
