Smoking is recognised as an unhealthy habit. It can cause heart attacks, strokes, cancer, and amputations. It causes harm to every organ in the body, including the skin. If you’re considering having plastic surgery and are a smoker, it is advised you attempt to either quit or considerably cut down on the amount of cigarettes you smoke for 2-6 weeks before your operation.

Will smoking affect the surgery?

Yes, smoking will affect the plastic surgery as it inhibits the ability for your skin and wounds to heal. Cigarettes contain the harmful substance nicotine which causes your arteries to narrow. When you arteries become narrow, it causes them to spasm which can restrict blood being able to get to the wound and heal it. When surgery is performed, the incision would reduce your normal amount of blood flow and so it is important that we have the most amount of blood possible in order to keep the soft tissue alive.

In order for your skin to heal, it needs to be able to have access to oxygen. When you smoke, you restrict this oxygen from being able to access the wound to heal it. As a result, your white blood cells are less able to fight any bacteria that might cause infection.

There are immense benefits to quitting smoking and it can improve your overall health and life span. Whilst smoking is an addiction, those who are able to quit for 4 weeks will be able to heal just as well as non-smokers.

Quitting smoking before your operation is good practice for the long run and will bring you greater benefits if you try to quit altogether. If you quit for the recommended amount of time you may benefit from the following: improved circulation, increased oxygen levels, decreased blood pressure, improved sense of taste and smell and improved lung function.

The thought of a Rhinoplasty procedure can be overwhelming. You may have been contemplating changing its appearance for years and now it all comes down to your consultation to make sure you’re asking the right questions, but what are the right questions? Below, Dr Alexandrides lists a number of questions that you should always aim to ask and discuss with your plastic surgeon during your consultation. The questions can be applicable to any type of invasive surgery:

1. Can I see your awards to see that you are board certified? What board are you certified by?
2. Can I see your before and after photos of previous Rhinoplasty procedures?
3. How many Rhinoplasty procedures have you performed?
4. What will you do to ensure I get the best level of care?
5. Who else will be involved in performing the surgery (if any) and what is their experience?
6. When was your last Rhinoplasty procedure?
7. Do you find that your patients have a high level of satisfaction?
8. Can you tell me more about the 111 Harley St Patient Promise and what the policy is for Rhinoplasty revisions?
9. How many revisions have you had to perform and why?
10. How long would my procedure take and how long will it take me to recover?
11. What possible complications could occur?
12. What technique will be used for my Rhinoplasty procedure?
13. Where will my procedure be performed, and what happens if there is an unexpected surgical complication or medical emergency?
14. Will I be put under local anaesthetic?
15. Are my expectations realistic and what kind of results can I hope to achieve?
16. What guidelines can you give me for after the Rhinoplasty procedure in terms of what I should and shouldn’t be doing?
17. How long will it take for any swelling to dissipate, and when can I expect to see the final results?

Does the nose change shape after Rhinoplasty? If so, how?

Dr Alexandrides highlights that although your face can continue to change shape due to weight/gain or loss, the actual column of the nose will not change shape. There is a misconception that noses continue to grow with age, however, this is untrue. They do however droop due to gravity. As we age we lose the collagen and elasticity in our body which causes parts of our bodies to sag and droop. As we age it is possible that the tip of the nose can also start to droop which will slightly alter its appearance.

How long does it take until the swelling subsides after Rhinoplasty?

Dr Alexandrides reiterates that swelling after Rhinoplasty should be expected and that you should wait until at least 6 months after your surgery before you can make a judgement. Depending on your nose and the aesthetic appearance, it is possible that there may only be a slight alteration to the appearance. Dr Alexandrides always encourages patients to be realistic about their expectations and what they wish to achieve. The surgeon who practised the surgery should have fully discussed the procedure with the patient.

There are several factors that could be conducive to the swelling of a nose after Rhinoplasty. It depends on the type of surgical technique that was performed due to the appearance of the nose. For example, most Rhinoplasty surgeries are reductive and minimise the size in some way. If the nose was broken, you may expect to experience a considerable amount of swelling and puffiness.

What is the ideal age to have Rhinoplasty?

Dr Alexandrides states that the 111 Harley St. practice does not perform surgery on anyone under the age of 18. It is advised that if the surgery is for aesthetic reasons wait until they are at least 18 as the nose will continue to grow.