title: Tobacco smoking and dermatologic surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and a major public health concern. Numerous clinical and experimental studies have examined the effect of nicotine on wound healing and surgical procedures, but there are limited published reports in the dermatologic surgery literature.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article seeks to develop evidence-based recommendations regarding the effect of tobacco use in patients undergoing dermatologic surgery procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the existing published English-language literature pertaining to the effects of tobacco on wound healing and surgical complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tobacco use is associated with a higher incidence of postoperative complications including wound dehiscence, flap or graft necrosis, prolonged healing time, and infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review article only summarizes past reports and studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recommendations for smoking cessation before dermatologic surgery are provided based on the available data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery and Laser Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94115, USA.
authors.forename: Jing F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: Siegrid S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Isaac M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Neuhaus
mesh_terms: D003357:Cosmetic Techniques; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000209:etiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D014945:Wound Healing