{"id":10332,"date":"2026-06-16T13:19:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/smoking-and-an-eyelid-correction-why-temporarily-stopping-makes-the-difference\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T03:56:03","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T03:56:03","slug":"smoking-and-an-eyelid-correction-why-temporarily-stopping-makes-the-difference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/smoking-and-an-eyelid-correction-why-temporarily-stopping-makes-the-difference\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoking and an eyelid correction: why (temporarily) stopping makes the difference"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"10332\" class=\"elementor elementor-10332 elementor-9748\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6e1d1e28 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6e1d1e28\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3edca1ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3edca1ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you smoke, vape, or use nicotine substitutes such as patches or gum? Then this is an important topic of conversation before you have an eyelid correction carried out. Nicotine has a direct effect on blood flow and wound healing, and that is precisely what an eyelid correction is all about.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-aa53687 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"aa53687\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why is smoking relevant with an eyelid correction?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bcece18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bcece18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Nicotine causes vessel narrowing (vasoconstriction), which means less blood, and thus less oxygen and nutrients, reaches the operation area. In addition, nicotine reduces the production of collagen, which is essential for good wound healing and scar formation [1,4]. <\/p><p>Research shows that smokers, compared to non-smokers, have 2 to 3 times more chance of complications after an operation. With eyelid corrections specifically, it is reported that wounds in non-smokers heal within 10 to 14 days, while in smokers this can take 3 to 4 weeks [2]. Smoking is moreover identified as an independent risk factor for wound infections after cosmetic surgery [2].  <\/p><p>The good news: the eyelid area is, compared to other body parts, relatively well perfused, which means the effect of smoking is usually less severe here than, for example, with an abdominoplasty [3]. Still, delayed healing, longer swelling and bruising, and an increased infection risk remain real risks [1,2]. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-da40fd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"da40fd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Points of attention<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75e2201 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"75e2201\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>Nicotine (also from vapes, patches or gum) reduces blood flow and collagen production [1,4]<\/li><li>Increased risk of infections, delayed wound healing and longer swelling\/bruising [2]<\/li><li>Coughing due to smoking can contribute to secondary bleeding after the procedure [3]<\/li><li>The effect of nicotine can continue for some time after stopping; cotinine (the breakdown product of nicotine) remains present in the body for up to about 2 weeks [3]<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5f25c1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f5f25c1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our protocol at Kliniek het Bolwerk<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1f6c04f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1f6c04f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Open conversation about smoking behaviour<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-db7e16e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"db7e16e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We actively ask about smoking, vaping and the use of nicotine-substitute products, even if this is only occasional. Honesty about this helps us to guide you as well as possible [5]. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75bbea3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"75bbea3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Advice to temporarily stop<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c32fbae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c32fbae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We advise stopping smoking and nicotine use at least 4 weeks before and 2 to 4 weeks after the procedure, as is also advised in the international guidelines for wound healing [1,4].<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-629de7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"629de7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Practical support<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c70c7f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6c70c7f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>We discuss practical tips for (temporarily) stopping and refer, if desired, to support with stopping smoking.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-226fbef elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"226fbef\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Extra attention with continued smoking<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6be734d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6be734d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you nevertheless choose to keep smoking? Then we take this into account in the planning and aftercare, and discuss the increased risks honestly with you, so that you can make an informed choice [2]. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfdcb71 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"bfdcb71\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;jet_parallax_layout_list&quot;:[]}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1fce09b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1fce09b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Important: smoking is not an absolute contraindication for an eyelid correction; thanks to the good blood flow of the eyelid area, the procedure is often still possible. Temporarily stopping does, however, reduce the risk of complications considerably and is strongly recommended. <\/span><\/i><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1587f2c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1587f2c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">When do we advise against the procedure (for the time being)?<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73ca29a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73ca29a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li>In the case of heavy and persistent smoking in combination with other risk factors (such as diabetes or blood thinners)<\/li><li>If there are already signs of a poor skin condition or blood flow around the eyes<\/li><li>When we decide together that (temporarily) stopping first is preferable, before the procedure is planned<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-435c0d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"435c0d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Our advice<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c758f5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c758f5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Do you smoke and are you considering an eyelid correction? Discuss this openly during the intake consultation at Kliniek het Bolwerk. We are happy to help you on your way with practical advice, so that you can start your procedure with the best preparation, for a beautiful and lasting result.  <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-61bfeb9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"61bfeb9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Literature references<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d3978ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d3978ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The publications below form the medical-scientific basis of this article:<\/p><ol><li>The Impact of Smoking and Nicotine Use on Surgical Site Wound Healing. Sanara MedTech.  2024.  <a href=\"https:\/\/sanaramedtech.com\/blog\/the-impact-of-smoking-and-nicotine-use-on-surgical-site-wound-healing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/sanaramedtech.com\/blog\/the-impact-of-smoking-and-nicotine-use-on-surgical-site-wound-healing\/<\/a><\/li><li>Smoking and your blepharoplasty recovery. Dr Nick Koutroumanos.  2025.  <a href=\"https:\/\/koutroumanos.com\/news\/smoke-gets-in-your-eyes-smoking-and-your-blepharoplasty-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/koutroumanos.com\/news\/smoke-gets-in-your-eyes-smoking-and-your-blepharoplasty-recovery\/<\/a><\/li><li>Smoking and Surgery. FVP Surgery.  2020.  <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fvpsurgery.com\/smoking-and-surgery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.fvpsurgery.com\/smoking-and-surgery\/<\/a><\/li><li>Nicotine and Cotinine Induce Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation \u2013 Potential Risk for Impaired Wound Healing in Smokers. Antioxidants (PMC). 2022. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9774423\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9774423\/<\/a>  <\/li><li>The influence of smoking and alcohol on bone healing: Systematic review and meta-analysis. PMC. 2021. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8571530\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC8571530\/<\/a>  <\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you smoke, vape, or use nicotine substitutes such as patches or gum? Then this is an important topic of conversation before you have an eyelid correction carried out. Nicotine has a direct effect on blood flow and wound healing, and that is precisely what an eyelid correction is all about. Why is smoking relevant [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":9845,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[92],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eyelid-surgery"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10332"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10333,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10332\/revisions\/10333"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9845"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kliniekhetbolwerk.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}