Cosmetic surgeon refuses to operate on patients who smoke
An American plastic surgeon has hit headlines by refusing to operate on patients who decline to quit smoking.
Dr. Samir Pancholi, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon who practises in Las Vegas, US, requires his patients to stop smoking four weeks prior to procedures and for four weeks following cosmetic surgery. The Las Vegas Sun reports that Dr. Pancholi ensures his patients have quit by making them take a urine test to determine nicotine levels a week before the date of their surgery.
Cosmetic surgeons have spoken up about the benefits of giving up smoking in relation to surgical procedures for the last 5 to 10 years - particularly when concerning surgeries such as tummy-tucks or breast lifts, which require skin to be shifted and rely on an un-restricted blood-flow.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of cosmetic procedures carried out in the US has doubled since 2000. The increased number of procedures means that more research is being done into the effects of smoking on cosmetic surgery and many reputable surgeons recommend kicking the habit.
Dr. William Zamboni, a spokesman for the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and professor of plastic surgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine also mandates that his patients completely abstain for a period of time before and after surgery - he recommends at least three weeks on either side. Dr. Zamboni claims that around one in five of his patients will quit smoking completely after abstaining for surgery.
The news follows reports in September that suggested cosmetic surgery candidates that smoked were motivated to quit following advice from plastic surgeons.
Tags: cosmetic surgery, Las Vegas, Quit smoking