Surgical Smoke Without Fire – The Risks To The Plastic Surgeon

Plastic surgeons encounter surgical smoke routinely as a by-product either of electrocautery, laser ablation, or ultrasonic (harmonic) scalpel tissue dissection. Strictly speaking, “smoke” is composed of the products of combustion, while “plume” is a mix of combusted and noncombusted particles, the mix and size of which can vary with the device used. The hazards of smoke plume inhalation are real, proven both scientifically and clinically.