03/19/2025
Doc, I v**e, not smoke. Can I still have surgery?
I hear this a lot, but the answer is absolutely not. V**e pens often contain the same - or even more - ni****ne as regular ci******es. And ni****ne is the enemy when it comes to proper surgical healing.
Ni****ne causes constriction of the tiny blood vessels that supply your tissues with the blood and oxygen they need to heal. If you're using ni****ne products before surgery, your blood flow won't be adequate, leading to horrible wound complications that we definitely want to avoid.
That's why I require all my surgical patients to abstain from ANY ni****ne-containing products - v**es, ci******es, chewing to***co, ni****ne gum or patches - for 4-6 weeks before their procedure. We'll do a ni****ne test to make sure it's all flushed from your system and you're safe to proceed.
After surgery, of course, I'll advise you to quit va**ng and smoking for good. But I know some patients will choose to resume. In that case, I ask that you at least give your body the 6 weeks it needs to heal properly, to avoid those nasty complications.
Your health and safety are my top priorities. Let's work together to ensure the best possible surgical outcome.
