Marijuana use is common among patients considering plastic surgery and is associated with elevated nicotine levels on laboratory tests, reports a paper in the September issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery ® , the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. We found that patients who report marijuana use also have elevated urine nicotine and cotinine levels – even those who don't smoke or use other nicotine-containing products.
This raises concerns that unsuspected nicotine exposure might lead to an increased risk of postoperative complications." Joseph A. Ricci, ASPS Member Surgeon, Hofstra University School of Medicine, Great Neck, NY First study to assess marijuana and nicotine use in plastic surgery patients The rising prevalence of marijuana use raises questions about potential negative effects in patients undergoing surgery.
Marijuana smoke contains carcinogens and irritants similar to those in tobacco smoke, with similarly harmful effects on pulmonary health. Nicotine causes impaired wound healing, which is a special concern in patients undergoing plastic surgery. The rising popularity of marijuana, combined with newer nicotine delivery products such as vapes, "presents a clinical challenge for healthcare providers to identify patients who are exposed to nicotine, as patients themselves may be unaware," the researchers write.
Dr. Ricci and colleagues exami.