Topics

Intro
Cigarette Smoke
Nicotine
Carbon Monoxide
Smoke and Bone
Bone Healing
Wound Healing
Lower Back Pain
General Problems
Legs and Feet
Summary

Wound Healing

Wound healing is similar to bone healing. Just as smokers have a diminished capacity to heal fractured bones, they also have impaired ability to heal wounds. Multiple studies have demonstrated inferior results associated with cosmetic surgery among smokers. The decrease in oxygen to peripheral tissues delays repair and can produce unusual amounts of scarring. Moreover, wounds in the extreme periphery, such as the feet, can sometimes fail to heal entirely.