3 Little White Lies That Can Sabotage Your Plastic Surgery
When considering plastic surgery, it is important to be honest with your doctor about all aspects of your health. Although you may think telling a few white lies won’t have much of an impact, they can have serious consequences when it comes to your safety and the outcome of your surgery. Here are three little white lies that can affect your plastic surgery:
Impact of Smoking on Plastic Surgery
Smoking has been proven to have a negative effect on surgical outcomes. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood, which can lead to slower wound healing, increased risk of infection, and higher complication rates. In addition, smoking has been known to cause skin discoloration and wrinkles around the mouth, making it difficult for surgeons to achieve desired results.
Prescription Medications & Recreational Drug Use
It is important to tell your surgeon about any prescription medications or recreational drugs you are taking or have taken in the past. many medications can interact with anesthesia, increasing the risk of complications during or after surgery. Additionally, certain recreational drugs can cause bleeding or other problems during surgery.
Supplements & Non-Prescription Medications
Even if they are natural or over-the-counter medications, it is still important to tell your surgeon about any supplements or non-prescription medications you are taking prior to surgery. Certain supplements and non-prescription medications can interact with anesthesia or increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.
Consulting a Professional for Plastic Surgery
When considering plastic surgery, it is important to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who has experience performing the procedure you are interested in. A qualified professional will be able to assess your health and provide advice on how best to proceed with your surgery. They will also be able to answer any questions you may have about potential risks or side effects associated with the procedure.
Impact of Smoking on Plastic Surgery
Smoking is one of the most dangerous habits that can have a major impact on plastic surgery. It is important to understand how smoking affects the body before considering any type of plastic surgery. Smoking decreases circulation, which can lead to poor healing and scarring. It also increases the risk of infection, as well as other complications such as skin necrosis (death of tissue due to lack of oxygen). In addition, smoking reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen, which can cause serious problems during and after a procedure.
Smoking also causes wrinkles and sagging skin, which can make it more difficult to achieve desired results from plastic surgery. The chemicals in cigarettes not only damage skin cells, but also break down elastin and collagen fibers in the skin, leading to premature aging. For this reason, it is recommended that patients quit smoking at least six weeks prior to any type of plastic surgery procedure.
Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of smoking on plastic surgery are even more serious than the short-term effects. Smoking increases the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can cause blood clots in the legs. This can be extremely dangerous if a clot breaks loose and travels to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or brain. In addition, smokers are more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can lead to breathing difficulties during and after a procedure.
Risks for Smokers
Overall, smokers are at a higher risk for complications during and after plastic surgery procedures than non-smokers. Therefore, it is important for patients who smoke to discuss their habit with their doctor before undergoing any type of cosmetic procedure. Patients may need to quit smoking several weeks prior to their procedure in order to reduce their risk for complications and improve their chances for successful results.
Prescription Medications & Recreational Drug Use
Before undergoing any type of plastic surgery, it is important to disclose all medications and recreational drugs you are taking to your surgeon. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, supplements, and recreational drugs. All of these substances can have an effect on the success of a plastic surgery procedure.
Prescription drugs can interact with anesthesia or other drugs used during the surgery process, increasing the risk of complications or even death. Some types of prescription medications that must be disclosed include blood thinners, steroids, antidepressants, and antibiotics. It is important for your surgeon to know about any medications you are taking in order to ensure that he or she can provide the safest possible treatment plan for you.
Recreational drug use (including marijuana) should also be discussed with your surgeon prior to having plastic surgery. Drugs such as marijuana can cause increased heart rate and blood pressure which could lead to complications during surgery. In addition, some recreational drugs may interfere with healing or increase the risk of infection after a procedure has been completed.
It is essential that you are completely honest with your surgeon about any medications or recreational drugs you are taking before having plastic surgery. By providing this information upfront, you can help ensure that your procedure goes as smoothly as possible and that you receive the best possible results from your plastic surgery experience.
Supplements & Non-Prescription Medications
It is important to be aware of the potential risks associated with taking any supplements and non-prescription medications prior to undergoing plastic surgery. While some supplements and non-prescription medications may seem harmless, they can have an adverse effect on healing after plastic surgery. Some of these substances could interact with anesthesia or other drugs used during the procedure, causing dangerous side effects.
Herbal Supplements
Herbal supplements are often marketed as natural alternatives for treating a variety of health conditions, including pain relief and improving overall wellbeing. However, many herbal supplements contain powerful ingredients that can interact with anesthesia and other drugs used during plastic surgery procedures. Some examples include ginseng, St. John’s wort, garlic, and ephedra. It is important to discuss any herbal supplement use with your doctor prior to undergoing plastic surgery to ensure you are not at risk for any complications or interactions.
Over-the-Counter Medications
many over-the-counter medications can also increase the risk of complications during plastic surgery procedures. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided for at least two weeks prior to the procedure in order to reduce bleeding risks during and after the procedure. Additionally, many cold medicines contain decongestants which can raise blood pressure levels and cause complications during surgery. It is best to avoid these types of medications prior to your procedure as well.
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are essential for maintaining good health but some can interfere with plastic surgery procedures if taken in high doses or in combination with certain medications. For example, Vitamin E has been known to increase bleeding risk when taken in large doses or in combination with anticoagulant medications such as warfarin or heparin. It is important to talk to your doctor about all vitamins and minerals you take before undergoing a plastic surgery procedure so they can adjust your dosage accordingly or advise you on which ones should be avoided altogether before your procedure.
In conclusion, it is important to be honest about any supplements and non-prescription medications you take when consulting a professional for plastic surgery so they can determine if there are any potential risks associated with them before proceeding with the procedure.
Consulting a Professional for Plastic Surgery
It is important to consult a professional prior to undergoing any type of plastic surgery. A doctor or specialist should be consulted to ensure that the patient is in good health and physically fit enough for the procedure. It is also important to discuss any potential risks associated with the procedure, as well as any lifestyle changes that might need to be made before and after the surgery.
The consultation should include questions about the patient’s medical history, including any pre-existing conditions, allergies, or medications they may be taking. The doctor should also ask about lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, and recreational drug use. This information will help them assess whether the patient is suitable for plastic surgery and if there are any potential risks associated with it.
In addition to discussing medical history and lifestyle habits, the doctor should also discuss expectations from the procedure. They should explain what results can realistically be achieved from the surgery and what kind of recovery period might be expected. They should also provide advice on aftercare and how best to manage pain and discomfort following the procedure.
Questions for Your Doctor
When consulting a professional for plastic surgery it is important to ask questions that will help you make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for you. Some questions you may want to ask your doctor include:
- What kind of results can I expect from this procedure?
- Are there any risks associated with this procedure?
- How long will I need to take off work following this procedure?
- What kind of aftercare instructions do you recommend?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make prior to undergoing this procedure?
These questions will help you understand exactly what you can expect from your plastic surgery experience and allow you make an informed decision about whether or not it is right for you. Consulting a professional prior to undergoing plastic surgery is essential in order to ensure that you are making an informed decision and that all potential risks are discussed beforehand.
Conclusion
Plastic surgery is a major decision and it’s important to be honest with yourself and your doctor when considering any type of procedure. Smoking, prescription medications, recreational drug use, supplements and non-prescription medications can all have an impact on the outcome of plastic surgery. It is important to speak openly with your doctor about any substances you are taking before undergoing any type of plastic surgery.
Your doctor can provide the best advice regarding how these substances may affect the outcome of the procedure. Consulting a professional prior to undergoing plastic surgery is also essential for ensuring that you receive the best possible results from your procedure. Being honest and open with your doctor about any substances you are taking will help ensure that you achieve the desired results from your plastic surgery procedure.