Smoking, Surgery & Wound Healing
Quitting Smoking Before Surgery
In order to heal well after surgery, you should quit smoking. Quitting smoking at least four weeks before and for eight weeks after surgery will help surgical wounds heal and will significantly lower your risk of post-surgical complications. If you are unable to quit smoking "cold turkey," start nicotine replacement therapy as soon as possible. You can buy nicotine gum, nicotine lozenges and nicotine patches at your local pharmacy. There are also prescription medications that can help you stop smoking that can be prescribed by your primary care physician. |
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Smokers and those exposed to second hand smoke can potentially develop complications such as poor wound healing, wound infection, pneumonia and heart problems. Wounds do not heal without a good blood supply and circulating oxygen. Smoking reduces the flow of blood to the wound by constricting small blood vessels and it lowers the concentration of oxygen in the blood.
Multiple studies have shown that smoking delays bone, ligament and soft tissue healing. The average time until complete bone healing after a fracture is approximately two months longer in smokers. However, if you start nicotine replacement therapy at least four weeks before and eight weeks after surgery, you can cut your risk of poor wound healing in half.
Multiple studies have shown that smoking delays bone, ligament and soft tissue healing. The average time until complete bone healing after a fracture is approximately two months longer in smokers. However, if you start nicotine replacement therapy at least four weeks before and eight weeks after surgery, you can cut your risk of poor wound healing in half.