Q: Does cigarette smoking affect my healing after surgery?

A: Absolutely! There are numerous chemicals that are sprayed on tobacco while in the field and during the processing of the leaves after harvesting, and these are not necessarily good for one’s health. In addition, recover after surgery requires lots of rest and energy. Cigarette smoking can decrease the amount of oxygen in your bloodstream. What’s more, cigarette smoking can cause constriction of the blood vessels that provide nutrients and oxygen to the body’s tissues, causing healing to be slower. In theory, we live in a free country.  It is not my place to tell you not to exercise your right to smoke.  But please, give it a rest if you are going to have surgery.