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Smoking and Breast Reconstruction Surgery | Breast Reconstruction Surgery Specialist in Dallas

Smoking and Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Written by Breast Reconstruction Associates on . Posted in Breast Reconstruction, Womens Health.

It’s estimated that there are currently over 30 million active cigarette smokers in the United States. The general health impact of cigarette smoking has been well established, and issues include elevated risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and COPD. The mass distribution of this information, as well as new smoking-cessation strategies for smokers, has decreased overall cigarette consumption over the last decade. 

It’s important to know that there are multiple issues with cigarette smoking.  There are cancer-causing agents introduced to our lung, and there is also nicotine absorbed into our blood.   Nicotine has a direct impact on the health of our blood vessels.  As reconstructive surgeons, it’s the nicotine absorbed into the blood that concerns us, as this causes issues with healing after surgery.  

The recent trend in smoking behavior is in the form of e-cigarettes or “vaping”.   These e-cigarettes come in multiple forms, some with nicotine and some without.  There is new research emerging that suggests e-cigarettes come with their own spectrum of lung issues.

Its also important to know that nicotine consumption, in any form, whether it be cigarettes, e-cigarettes, gums, patches, or lozenges, still increase the risk of complications with surgery.  For this reason, your plastic surgeon will need to know if you are using any nicotine products.  At your consultation, your plastic surgeon can discuss with you in detail the nicotine-related risks of breast reconstruction, in a way that is tailored specifically to your case. You will be asked to discontinue use of all nicotine products for at least 4-6 weeks prior to your surgery date.  It is possible your surgeon will choose to test your blood or urine for the presence of nicotine.

At Breast Reconstruction Associates, your breast reconstructive specialists in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Oklahoma City, we are here to help you make the best possible decision for your general health and wellbeing, as well as to prepare you for the best possible surgical outcome.

Breast Surgery for Older Women | Breast Reconstruction Associates

Breast Surgery for Older Women

Written by Breast Reconstruction Associates on . Posted in Breast Cancer, Breast Reconstruction, Womens Health.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting American women with 1 in 8 women diagnosed during their lifetime.  There are several risk factors involved in the development of breast cancer, some of which are modifiable (weight/BMI, hormone use, smoking and alcohol use) while others cannot be changed or controlled (age, genetics).  Increasing age is considered the most significant risk factor for this diagnosis, and it may contribute to the treatment decisions as chronologically advanced women may have other co-morbidities that must be considered.

As we age, our organs experience various changes that can affect surgical healing.  For example, the skin becomes thinner and has less connective tissue like collagen and elastin, all of which can lead to delayed healing.  While we cannot reverse this physiologic process, we can control other components like smoking. All nicotine products cause vasoconstriction, which makes it more difficult for the arteries to deliver necessary oxygen and nutrients to all organs and tissue.  Smoking and the use of nicotine products exponentially increases the risks of surgery and can sometimes disqualify a patient from reconstructive surgery.  We prefer that any patient undergoing reconstructive surgery be off all nicotine products for at least 6 weeks.

General anesthesia is required during breast reconstructive surgery whether using implants or autologous aka tissue-based reconstruction.  At Breast Reconstruction Associates, we use a two-surgeon team on all autologous cases to minimize the length of surgery and therefore the amount of anesthesia, which directly correlates to quicker recovery times.  Age is a consideration for these surgeries as there are increased risks of post-operative delirium and post-operative cognitive dysfunction in patients aged 65 and older.  These patients are at higher risk if they have an established diagnosis of any form of cognitive impairment.

At Breast Reconstruction Associates, we offer various reconstructive options for our patients and always involve the patients in this discussion and decision process.  Each patient is unique due to their age, medical and family history, and tumor profile among many other considerations.  We want to work with you and your breast cancer team to determine the best possible outcome, so please contact us today to set up a consultation.

Sources:
“Preparing for Surgery – Age Risks,” American Society of Anesthesiologists, https://www.asahq.org/whensecondscount/preparing-for-surgery/risks/age/.