Tag Archives: smoking

Smoking is one of the most difficult habits for a person to quit. Most patients who consider plastic surgery are surprised to learn that smoking is a problem and increases surgical complications. According to a recent online article recent findings focusing on over 1 million women smokers found that they more than tripled their risk of dying early when compared with women who did not smoke. Between 1996 and 2001 scientist from the University of Oxford and United Kingdom surveyed and questioned women regarding to their smoking habits, medical history, and social status. 20% were smokers, the 52% had never smoked, and 28% were ex-smokers. Women were surveyed and questioned every two years throughout the study. The study lasted more than 12 years. During this time 66,000 participants passed away. Those who smoked throughout the study were three times as likely to die in the nine years that followed when compared to non-smokers in the study. Medical professionals agree that the sooner patients quit smoking the greater the likelihood that they will live longer. Dr. Seify explains to patients who are smokers that the risks of surgical complications are increased for those patients. Surgeries including facelift, breast lift, breast reduction, and brachioplasty are some of the surgeries with increased risk for smokers. While delayed wound healing is a major concern, the likelihood that scarring will heal with unattractive markings increases with smokers. Cosmetic surgery procedures that are primarily for lifting and tightening skin could heal poorly for smokers due to the tension that is required to hold the incision together. It is best if patients can quit smoking at least three weeks prior to surgery and a minimum of four weeks after surgery. Of course, the ideal situation would be for patients to quit smoking altogether after surgery. Patients  who are considering cosmetic plastic surgery procedures are encouraged to contact Dr. Seify to see which plastic surgery procedures are right for them.

weight lossWeight loss and plastic surgery often go together.  Extreme weight loss has now become something that many people are aware, of thanks to the improvements made in weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgeries ranging from Lap Band to gastric bypass have become part of the landscape of American lifestyles. Few people discuss the after effects of extreme weight loss.

Weight Loss After Effects

One of the most prevalent aftereffects is loose and lax excess skin that appears to hang off of the body. Few would dispute that this can be rather unattractive and for many can have a negative effect on what should be a positive accomplishment after losing a large amount of weight. For most patients the most troublesome areas are the abdomen, lower back, buttocks, and outer thighs. For these areas Dr. Seify may recommend a body lift. As an ASPS board-certified plastic surgeon, well experienced in reconstructive surgery the body lift is a procedure performed regularly by Dr. Seify. During the initial consultation

Weight Loss and Plastic Surgery

Dr. Seify will assess if the patient is a good candidate for the procedure. It is critical that patients who are considering this procedure are at a stable body weight and are no longer losing weight. This allows Dr. Seify to make recommendations without concern for extreme weight fluctuations that may follow after having surgery. It is also critical that patients are in good health which includes blood pressure that is well controlled and patients who are non-smokers. Smoking can have an extremely negative effect especially after procedures like a body lift, abdominoplasty, or brachioplasty (arm lift). For patients who are smokers, Dr. Seify will require at the very minimum that they quit smoking at least two weeks prior to surgery and four weeks after surgery. Smokers can experience complications which include delayed wound healing and compromise tissues at the incision sites. It is important for patients to have realistic expectations concerning the body lift procedure after massive weight loss. While Dr. Seify will tighten the skin and there will be a dramatic difference, patients must understand that some residual redundant skin will remain once the recovery is complete. Most patients who have a post massive weight loss body lift our extremely satisfied with the results and tell Dr. Seify that their self-esteem and self-confidence has been greatly increased.  
smokingSmoking and surgery risk are well documented. Smoking is rarely if ever referred to in a positive light. Study after study seems to show additional harmful effects from cigarette smoking. Smoking and surgery risk are included.  According to recent onlinearticle we can add developing psoriasis to the list of possible risk. According to the article smokers are at more of  an increased risk of developing the autoimmune skin condition, psoriasis than nonsmokers, a new study finds.

Smoking and Surgery Risk One Other Concern

Smoking and surgery risk are serious. The risk of developing psoriasis is  serious too. Smoking taxes the body’s immune system and it has to operate in overdrive, one expert suggests. The research doesn’t specifically prove that smoking causes psoriasis, or that a large percentage of smokers would avoid developing the condition even if they faced an increased risk. However, the findings give us yet another reason for smokers to kick the habit, said study co-author Dr. Abrar Qureshi, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. “It behooves us even more to advise individuals who are smoking to quit,” he said, especially because psoriasis itself is linked to higher risks of diabetes and heart attacks. Smoking surgery riisk are yet another reason. Psoriasis, which is likely to occur in adulthood, causes itchy and painful patches of thick, scaly and reddened or whitened skin. The patches often appear on the knees and elbows.Many patients feel embarrassed and ashamed of the appearance of psoriasis. Smoking also carries an increased risk of complications for plastic surgery patients.

Smoking Surgery Risk| Critical to Cosmetic Surgery

Smoking and surgery risk must always be considered when patients are considering cosmetic surgery. Cosmetic plastic surgery patients are generally in a position to make some effort to reduce the risks smoking could have on their cosmetic surgery procedure. Dr. Seify explains to his patients the risk of complications if they are smokers. Smoking and surgery risk include but are not limited to delayed wound healing, less than aesthetically desirable scarring, and compromised tissue strength. This is most noticeable in patients who have had procedures which include breastlift, breastreduction, abdominoplasty, and facelift. Of particular concern are the incisions used to tighten the skin. These incisions have tension that holds the skin together and in turn can become weak and unable to maintain the closed incision. This can cause the incision to open and spread. The tissue can become compromised dark and crusty. This process is known as delayed wound healing and can be quite cumbersome and disenchanting for the patient. It is important for smokers to know that this can still be a risk even if the patient is able to quit prior to surgery. Dr. Seify and his staff are committed to helping patients through complications that may arise using compassion and quality care. Of course, the best case scenario is for patients not to smoke at all.  
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