Smoking and nicotine use do not just affect healing after surgery. They affect the long term quality of your results as well. For that reason, my patients are required to stop smoking and nicotine products for a minimum of two to three months before surgery to reduce the risk of wound healing complications. But what happens if you start smoking again afterwards? Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces blood flow to the tissues. Over time, this can lead to skin that appears duller, thinner, less vibrant, and more crepey. A facelift can reposition and restore tissue, but the quality of that tissue still matters. Healthier tissue ages better. Better blood flow supports better skin quality. Choosing not to smoke is one of the most important things you can do to protect both your investment and your long term results. Dr. Novis is a double board certified facial plastic surgeon in North Myrtle Beach, SC, specializing in deep plane face and neck lift procedures under local ane...