Smoking and Plastic Surgery: A Dangerous Combination

Before getting plastic surgery, there are a few lifestyle changes a patient may have to make to make the surgery and recovery process successful.  A few changes your plastic surgeon may recommend are changing your diet, drinking more water, or discontinuing the use of certain supplements.  One major lifestyle change many plastic surgeons recommend of every patient in order to be eligible for a procedure is quitting smoking. 

Body by Motoki: Requirements

Because we care about the overall well-being of our patients, we will not perform procedures on individuals whose smoking habit will jeopardize their recovery.  As such, we require a patient to quit smoking and all forms of nicotine exposure for a minimum of 6 weeks before and after surgery.

Why is this a requirement?

Nicotine, a chemical found in cigarettes, e-cigarettes, patches, gum, snuff, chewing tobacco, pipes, and cigars, has several significant adverse effects on the body.  One of these major effects is shrinkage of the blood vessels which results in overall decreased blood flow.  After plastic surgery, the body relies on blood to help the recovery process. Limited blood flow caused by smoking can hinder or extremely delay proper healing from a procedure.  Also, individuals who are exposed to nicotine are more likely to have procedure-related complications including blood clots, infection, and loss of tissue.

If you considering undergoing plastic surgery and are a nicotine user, there are several resources available to help you stop.  These include support groups, counseling and smoking cessation resources.  Begin your nicotine-free journey to a healthier you TODAY!

How a Breast Reduction Procedure can help you

       Although many women are looking to increase the size of their breasts, there are some women who suffer from breast hypertrophy which is enlargement of the breasts. This can occur during the teenage years or later on in life.   So how can a breast reduction procedure help women?  By reducing the size and weight of the breasts, pressure is taken off of the back, neck and shoulders which may help alleviate physical discomfort.   For women who are active, a breast reduction procedure will make it easier for them to continue to exercise without the hassle of a heavy chest Reducing the size of the breasts can also create a more aesthetically pleasing breast contour that is better proportioned to a woman’s body.

Many women have been helped through breast reduction surgery, and Board Certified plastic surgeon Dr. Motoki has extensive experience in performing this procedure.   Call our office today and schedule a consultation to find out if a breast reduction might be the right surgery for you!

Choose the Right Plastic Surgery

How to choose the right plastic surgery for you

Having plastic surgery is an important step to improving confidence and a person’s appearance.  Everyone has heard the horror stories of plastic surgery that went wrong.   So how can someone who is having a procedure done make sure they have a quality surgeon that will make sure it’s done right?  The first step is to check their qualifications.  Verify that they are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and properly trained.  Not all surgeons are the same.  To get board certified each doctor must meet a variety of different qualifications such as training, education, and experience.  It is important to know if a surgeon is board certified by looking at their record.  Depending on which state you are in you can view a surgeon’s record online or request it through the mail.  Watch for any settlements or disciplinary action that they may have had handed down.  Those are huge red flags for any plastic surgeon.  When meeting with a doctor make sure to come loaded with questions.  One question to make sure to get answered is if the surgeon has hospital privileges for the procedures you are considering.  Having hospital privileges is important because it shows there is a plan in case a complication arises.  Hospitals also perform background checks meaning that a surgeon with hospital privileges has been thoroughly investigated.