Hello all, I am schedueled for a tummy tuck july 19th and recently picked up smoking 2 months ago due to stressful family health issues. The past week Ive cut down to a few a day and trying to quit permanently. Just wondering if anyone had any plastic surgery complications due to smoking before surgery. Beleive me Im trying to quit but its hard at times. I just wonder if one week of no smoking is sufficient prior to surgery???? thanks

Hi:

I say quit now! My surgeon wouldn't do any cosmetic surgery for a smoker. I think it's a general rule about elective surgery, not worth the extra risk if someone is a smoker. Also, it's very hard to heal when your system is compromised by circulation issues, etc. caused by smoking. At least that's what she told me. Another thing is that it can be a lengthy surgery under anesthesia. It's hard to breath afterwards and I haven't smoked in almost 24 years.

I hope all goes well and I know it's hard to quit. I smoked almost 3 packs a day back in the 80's when you could smoke everywhere. I quit the day I found out I was pregnant and haven't smoked since, and that was almost 24 years ago.

Good luck!

Sue

Hello all, I am schedueled for a tummy tuck july 19th and recently picked up smoking 2 months ago due to stressful family health issues. The past week Ive cut down to a few a day and trying to quit permanently. Just wondering if anyone had any plastic surgery complications due to smoking before surgery. Beleive me Im trying to quit but its hard at times. I just wonder if one week of no smoking is sufficient prior to surgery???? thanks

Having worked in plastics my doctor would not do surgery on anyone that was smoking. It is harder for you to recover and it will take longer for the incisions to heal and this can cause infection. He would tell them two weeks no smoking. It is also harder to wake up after surgery. Hope this helps.

Please stop smoking before AND AFTER your surgery!! Nicotine constricts your blood vessels and with a reduced blood supply, your incisions will take much longer to heal, if they do at all.

Long story short, my sister had a breast reduction and she refused to quit smoking (not sure why the doc even DID the surgery...). The end results? She had 7 surgeries over the next three years and she had to have her areolas tattooed in. Her breasts just look scary.

It is simply not worth it.