Smoking and Nicotine Use Increases Your Chance of Healing Problems

John LoMonaco, MD answers: Chances of complications from smoking a month before Tummy Tuck and Lipo?

I have smoked on and off since I was 15. Never smoked a pack a day, maybe just one or two cigarettes. About a couple of years ago I started to smoke black and milds (cigar) about once a day or every other day. I am supposed to have a tummy tuck with liposuction in my flanks in about a month. I stopped two weeks ago. What are my chances of complications?


John LoMonaco, MD
1 month ago
By John LoMonaco, MD - Houston Plastic Surgeon

Although a month off nicotine (in any form) is probably sufficient, remaining off nicotine while you heal after surgery is also important for the first few weeks too.

There is no agreed upon time frame on exactly how long to quit smoking before plastic surgery, but at least one study done i Sweden shows the complication rates dropping when patients stopped 4 weeks prior to general and orthopedic surgery.

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