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I had a Breast Reduction & I Smoked...

By btowell on 12 Jan 2012

This is for every women out there who smokes or used to smoke and is considering a Breast Reduction. I did my research. I knew that there were valid reasons to quit but I couldn't. I tried but it just always seemed so daunting, plus my husband was a smoker. I would quit smoking during the day but by 5 o clock i would be craving one so bad. I would give in and start all over again. Finally 4 days before my surgery I was able to kick the habit. Wow. I wasn't sure that it was enough time but after all of the research I had done, I was aware that the MAJORITY of the nicotine leaves your system in only a couple of days so I felt comfortable going forward with my surgery. Amazingly enough, my surgery went off without a hitch. I healed beautifully. Like nothing i have ever seen before, i am not even 2 weeks post op and my wounds are just about completely healed. I didnt hardly bruise and was never really in pain. After the first couple days i was back to myself, i have 2 young children, a toddler and an infant, so i didnt have the option to stay down. I have been blessed in my recovery. I just really wanted to share this story with anyone who may be in the same boat because I searched for articles or blogs on this when i was trying to quit and i never found not even 1 article. So atleast there is 1 now. Please do try to stop but if you cant, just be honest with your plastic surgeon and go for it if the risks are worth it to you. To me, the benefits FAR outweighed the risks of me being a smoker. I am not advocating for anything, I just want women to know that they are not alone. Smoking is one hell of a hard habit to kick. Best of luck to everyone!

Comments (21)

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Bebe1122 21 Nov 2012

I was faced with the same dilema, quit smoking or no surgery. I was wanting a tummy tuck but didn't want to risk dead or dying flesh..lol. I quit 5 weeks before that surgery. I've been smoke free since June 25, 2012. My triggers were the car, the back porch in the morning with coffee and on the boat fishing. In the car I substituted popcorn, eating one kernal at time. I have a 45 minute commute, so I stretched that popcorn out as long as possible. Whenever the cravings got really bad while sitting on the back porch, I would get up and go for a walk taking deep breaths. I still walk 40 minutes every morning. While on the fishing boat I would take jaw breakers and pop one in whenever the craving reared up. Cravings are very short, if you can get through one you'll outsmart them. Think of them as a nasty monster and nicotine is his food. I get an inner satisfaction from starving the monster. The monster is still in my belly, but too weak to harrass me right now. But all it would take is a little of his "food" and he'd be strong enough to attack again. These are the mind games I play with my self. Silly yes, but it's worked up to this point.

Lexi D 13 Nov 2012

Thanks for posting that comment! I'm due to have surgery in Thailand on the 15th Dec & got patches from the Doc today! I also enjoy smoking, & i'm determined to lose another half stone before the op, but worried it'll never happen if i stop. That's great that your scars are healing well :) That's a big concern for me. I'm a 36F going to a C....i just joined this site today & posted my blog, but don't know my way around here yet! x

niniScotland2475 8 Nov 2012

Yeah I stopped 4 days ago but I am more worried about after surgery because right know I am keeping myself very busy but when I am recovering I think I will struggle xx BR is the 21st nov xx

btowell 9 Nov 2012

@niniScotland2475 - I was worried about smoking after my BR the most, but for the first few days afterwards, you will be on fair amount of pain meds and only want to sleep/lay down, so its much easier than you think. By the time that you are feeling well enough to want to smoke, you will have quit for a few weeks and most likely will not crave it at that point.

niniScotland2475 20 Nov 2012

fingers crossed lol x

btowell 5 Nov 2012

Missmika09 - I totally understand what you are going through. I was only able to quit a few days before surgery and for 3 weeks after and it was very hard. From what I understand, the most crucial period for not smoking is the few days before and the first couple weeks after, if you have already passed that time I am not sure what kind of results you will get from quiting at this point. Obviously it would be good to stop but if you are just completely unable to quit try to at least focus on doing all of the other things that will help you heal. A leafy green diet, a TON of citrus fruits, cucumbers, and pinapples. Vitamin C and Bromelane (sp) are some of the best things. Plenty of rest but do try to move because if you are too sedentary you are only harming yourself more. Get up, do some walking, and let the blood flow where it needs. I wish you the best of luck and please keep us updated. I am now almost 1 year out and feeling/looking amazing. It is by far the best choice I have ever made and I would do it over 100 times again.

missmika09 1 Nov 2012

hello ladies i just had my br oct.17th and i smoke i only had 6days to quit . well the first 3days i stopped then my nerves got me and i lightly picked up. well now im 2weeks post op and i still smoke about 3 a day and im suffering it i want to stop so bad because its hurting me all together plz let me know how i can stop now to get better

natalierw 5 Nov 2012

I quit using chantix prescription for 3 weeks. I smoked 35 years and heavy Andi was afraid to take it and it worked beautifully for me and my 5 siblings also my age all quit when they saw it worked for me. I took half the dose and just 3 weeks because I fear pills. My siblings used it varied.one for 3 months was the longest he took it.we are all smoke free about 5 years.I could not have quit without them.I'm to nervous. I think I smoked about 3 packs a day when I quit and this prescription allows you to smoke while I took the pill which gave me a crutch!. I worked retail where people quit with gum or patches and they were still addicted to the nicotine. The pills work on the addiction and you don't need them for long like the others. I also stayed on a forum with other quitters at about.com check it out. Good luck its a big deal to quit!! I feel like no smoking. Great teeth and gonna get Lil boobies. Very kewl!!

kandii09 25 Sep 2012

I have br on Oct 5 n it's Sep 25 I still debating should I cancel my app

Gingerlynda 24 Sep 2012

My PS won't do the surgery unless I quit completely. I smoke between 2 - 5 cigs per day. I go ALL DAY without one, but the minute I get home, the "habit" kicks right in!!
I don't know what to do!!! I want the surgery, but I'm finding it impossible to quit completely. I had Breast Cancer and a lumpectomy back in 2005, and I healed beautifully from that surgery....and yes, I continued to smoke. My oncologist thought I had enough on my plate without having to try to quit at that time.

natalierw 5 Nov 2012

Home is the link! Force yourself to brush your teeth or something. A lot of people do it out of habit of ritual not nicotine. Like I could not answer the phone or go to the bathroom or drive without a smoke!!. Good luck!

TaraFF 11 May 2012

Ya, my surgery is scheduled for May 31st and i'm counting down the days to the 2 week mark. I feel a bit better after reading your post. Thanks for sharing. I smoke almost a pck a day and have smoked for years. I did quit from 2009 till end of 2010 though, thanks to 2nd pregnancy, but now i fear its going to be even harder to quit than the first time. I am going out drinking with friends' this Saturday and its my last hurrah of "Smoking and Drinking" i will have with them. This is going to be HARD...

herban_cowgirl 14 Apr 2012

Hi Ladies, I just had to butt in here...I quit smoking in order to get the breast reduction and I'm about 2.5 weeks out of my surgery and not smoking still. So its been 2 months about.
Please dont get the e-cig (I have had them also when I was trying to cut down). Most of them still contain nicotine, and that is one of the chemicals thats hinders the healing process.
I KNOW it is hard & I was even dreaming about smoking the other night (man it was good), but honestly, the e-cig is not better for what your body needs to heal from the surgery and you dont want those nasty complications.

I am not trying to preach to you or anything, but its a fact I dont think many people are aware of.....

Good luck, I relate to the struggle, believe me.....

Lexi D 13 Nov 2012

HI, thanks for the informative post. Well done on the stopping smoking! I'm due for BR in Thailand on 15th Dec, i got patches today & was gonna get the e-cig too! What was your secret? Lexi x

SherryA 27 Feb 2012

This is so great to hear. I struggled like crazy to quit smoking prior to my surgery and finally was able to do it, one week before. I hope I can maintain the not smoking, however I think I am going to buy a electonic cigarette. I researched articles as well looking for the side effects, the only thing I found was that the recovery time could be slower.

LadyTeri 13 Apr 2012

Sherry. I was thinking the same thing! I haven't struggled at all with stopping, but i do miss smoking! But i hated smoking ugh, the nasty smell in my car and my clothes. I never liked i, but boy I just want to puff on something! So I may buy an e-cig kit too. I've had them and fully enjoy them so I'll see after surgery.

Let me know what you end up doing.

btowell 12 Feb 2012

I wish you the best! Those were the two cigs that i couldnt give up either! I am not advocating smoking but I have healed beautifully. No issues what so ever. This is just my personal experience.

herban_cowgirl 12 Feb 2012

THANK YOU for posting this experience. I am a smoker (2 cigs a day usually) and I said I will quit the day I set my BR appointment for surgery. You would think, oh 2 cigs a day, big whoop, but I cant seem to give up my after dinner smoke and before bed smoke. I hope I can do it. Thanks again for your experience! I am glad it worked out ok for you.

AimeedoubleGs 24 Jan 2012

I am so glad you did well despite smoking :) I completely believe there is an anti-smoking crusade in this country, and although I don't smoke, it quite frankly pisses me off. Here in lala land you can't smoke in public (yes you read that right... not just not indoors, but in public spaces such as parks, college campuses, etc. as well), and they even tired to put a bill through that would ban smoking in rented properties! This is LA! Everyone lives in rented properties!! So now you are saying no smoking in public, or in the privacy of your rented space?? That is not right. As out Governor (who I adore) said, you don't need a law to address every human problem.

I say all that so you don't feel attacked when I say this: the man in this article speaks in an arrogant and unlikable way, but there is a proven link between smoking and nipple loss... It's just a simple fact that smoking changes your blood flow and changes in blood flow are what causes the majority of nipple losses. If you smoke, you are more likely to suffer this complication then a nonsmoker.

I am so glad you are OK, and if I were a smoker and couldn't quit I don't know what I would do because my body won't allow me to lug these H/I cups around any longer! If I couldn't quit I would probably have to do exactly what you did, and hopefully I would be as lucky as you were :)

btowell 24 Jan 2012

I saw that post on CNN. I dont completely buy it. These complications happen to women who do and do not smoke. But if your a smoker,they automatically claim that it happened because you were a smoker. It is alot of b.s. to me. My PS didnt even ask me if i was a smoker but on my pre-op instructions it said to stop smoking 2 weeks prior. Like i said, i was only able to stop 4 days prior and everything turned out just beautiful. Ive seen a hundred non smokers whos breast reductions dont look half as good as mine. So that is just my 2 cents.

Makenzie 24 Jan 2012

I'm so glad to hear you healed well when all was said and done. Curious if this article on CNN last month was part of what made you so nervous about the smoking? Or was it just because of your doctor's recommendations and what you've read on the site?

Smoking Can Make Your Nipples Fall Off