How Smoking and Drinking Affect Rhinoplasty Recovery

Smoking and heavy drinking are bad for your health, and both can be hard habits to break. They also cause specific problems for anyone planning facial plastic surgery, particularly rhinoplasty. No reputable plastic surgeon will operate on a patient who has been smoking within several weeks of the surgery due to safety risks, but they must often rely on the patient’s word in these cases. The same applies to recovery: smoking and alcohol both interfere with healing, make complications more likely and can affect the final result.

So how do smoking and drinking affect rhinoplasty recovery?

The Effects of Smoking

Smokers are at a much higher risk for death and major complications during and after the surgery itself. Rhinoplasty is a very safe procedure for healthy patients, but smokers are at an increased risk for cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, and complications from anesthesia. Smoking worsens inflammation and impairs the white blood cells that fight infection, which adds to these risks.

The effects of smoking don’t just apply to the surgery itself. Smoking introduces nicotine and carbon monoxide to the bloodstream, which narrow the blood vessels and reduce circulation, preventing oxygen from making its way efficiently through the body. This leads to prolonged, poor healing, which can result in increased swelling, skin necrosis, and infection. Smokers also tend to form more scar tissue during rhinoplasty recovery, and that scar tissue can change the final look of the nose. You can choose the greatest surgeon in the world, but poor healing from smoking could easily ruin your results.

The Effects of Drinking

Alcohol is not quite as dangerous as smoking, but drinking in the few days before surgery and during recovery still affects healing in several ways. Alcohol increases swelling, something that already happens naturally following rhinoplasty surgery. Drinking also raises the risk of prolonged bleeding, which can lengthen recovery and lead to complications. Finally, alcohol can interact with some of the medications you take after surgery and can make pain medication less effective, so follow your surgeon’s instructions on alcohol closely.

Using Rhinoplasty as Motivation to Quit Smoking

Have you had trouble quitting smoking in the past? Maybe the long-term effects on your health weren’t enough to make you quit, but some people find that an upcoming rhinoplasty is the push they need to finally kick the habit. Rhinoplasty takes planning and involves some discomfort and recovery time, but the results are worth the effort, and the same is true of quitting smoking.

Patients must be smoke-free for at least several weeks before surgery to lower surgical risks and avoid healing complications. Switching to e-cigarettes during the healing period does not get around the problem. These devices still contain nicotine and other chemicals that pose safety risks and can interfere significantly with healing.

Your Responsibilities

As a patient, you do have a few responsibilities to help set you up for a safe and successful procedure. Your first responsibility is to choose a skilled facial plastic surgeon to perform your procedure. Rhinoplasty is one of the most demanding operations in facial plastic surgery, and consistently good results across many different noses come from a surgeon who specializes in it. Do your research first, then book consultations with the surgeons at the top of your list. These meetings give you a chance to ask questions and get to know prospective surgeons.

Once you’ve chosen a surgeon you can trust, your next responsibility is taking care of yourself properly before and after surgery. You will be given specific instructions on pre and post-operative care, which you should follow as closely as you can to promote good results. If you choose the right surgeon for you and ensure proper care, you have a very good chance of a successful result.

To talk through your goals for surgery, come to The Naderi Center and meet with Dr. Shervin Naderi. Dr. Naderi is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with 20+ years of experience and a strong surgical focus on rhinoplasty. To learn more and to schedule a consultation in Reston, VA (703-481-0002) or Chevy Chase, MD (301-222-2020), call either location today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long before rhinoplasty do I need to stop smoking?

You need to be completely smoke-free for at least several weeks before surgery and stay off nicotine while you heal. Nicotine and carbon monoxide narrow the blood vessels and slow healing, so your pre-op instructions will give you the exact timing for your case.

Can I vape instead of smoking after rhinoplasty?

No. E-cigarettes and vapes still deliver nicotine and other chemicals that interfere with healing, so switching to them does not remove the risk.

When can I drink alcohol after rhinoplasty?

Avoid alcohol in the few days before surgery and during your recovery, and follow Dr. Naderi’s specific instructions. Alcohol increases swelling and bleeding and can interact with the medications you take after surgery.

Can smoking change how my nose looks after rhinoplasty?

Yes. Poor healing from smoking can lead to more swelling, infection and extra scar tissue, and scar tissue can change the final shape of the nose.

How much time off do I need after rhinoplasty?

Plan on about a week off work. The nasal cast stays on for 5 to 10 days, and you should avoid exercise for about a month after surgery.