How Long Should You Stop Smoking Before Tummy Tuck?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by npinklace in anderson,sc

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Smoking and Abdominoplasty

The scientific data is clear that smoking is quite risky in patients having a tummy tuck. Most plastic surgeons, including myself, require that you have no exposure to any tobacco/nicotine containing products for 4 weeks prior to and an additional 4 weeks after having the surgery. Compromised normal blood flow in an abdominoplasty patient (via nicotine products along with thousands of other harmful chemicals in cigarettes) can at times lead to disastrous complications and... more

Tummy Tuck

Smoking has a significant effect on bloodflow. It is particularly important with surgery such as tummy tucks because the abdominal skin flap needs the blood supply to effectively heal the abdominal flap incision. I tend to be very cautious in smokers when I do these procedures. I prefer patients to stop smoking for one month and to be off all aids such as nicotine gum (the gum puts some of the compromising substances into your system that effects blood supply.) In... more

Be Tobacco Free Before Surgery

The use of tobacco products is extremely detrimental to the surgical process. Not only can tobacco use impair ones ability to heal incisions, but it places patients at much higher risk for other peri-operative complications such as atelectasis, pneumonia and deep venous thrombosis. It is essential that patients be COMPLETELY off all tobacco products, including nicotine gums and patches, for an absolute minimum of six weeks prior to surgery...and for as long as is required to be completely... more

Two weeks before and two weeks after of nonsmoking is recommended, but not always possible.

A common recommendation is no smoking one month before and then one month after surgery. However, I shorten this to two weeks for my patients because I know that it is a very difficult thing to quit and I'd rather them concentrate on no smoking for two weeks before and after rather than cheating during a longer period. Some surgeons are very strict and won't even operate on patients who smoke. I do not fell this way. I tell my patients that their risk of delayed wound... more

Smoking and tummytuck

I ask my patients to be nicotine free for at least 3 months prior to a tummy tuck procedure. This also applies to facelifts, breast reductions and breast lifts. The effects of smoking a single cigarette will last 8-10 hours on the microcirculation. These are the tiny blood vessels that bring oxygen to the tissues. A lack of oxygen can cause tissue necrosis (death of tissue).

Smoking cessation before tummy tuck

The longer, the better! I would recommend that you go through a smoking cessation program at least eight weeks prior to abdominoplasty. Nicotine has longterm effects and interferes with wound healing so smoking can truly be adverse to the surgical outcome. Wanting a tummy tuck can be an excellent motivation to quit. I encourage you to speak with your doctor and find a program, whether hyponosis, Nicorette or another treatment, which will help you to be smoke-free! more

Stop Smoking before a Tummy Tuck

I would stop the smoking, nicotine gum, and any nicotine patches for AT LEAST 4 weeks prior to surgery. The nicotine will constrict blood vessels and may cause the blood supply to be weakend to the healing areas which can increase the wound complication rate. It is just not worth taking a chance with elective surgery. This advice is my recommendation prior to tummy tucks, facelifts, breast lifts and reductions, arm lifts, thigh lifts, and body lifts.

Smoking before tummy tuck

The longer the better. You not only need to stop smoking for the period of time recommended by your plastic surgeon, you also need to be off any other form of nicotine, which is the culprit. You must be off any nicotine containing gum or patch etc. Don't cheat. Good luck

Ralph R. Garramone, MD

7 reviews

Fort Myers Plastic Surgeon

Stop smoking before tummy tuck

Tummy tuck is one of the procedures which seems to have the most trouble for smokers (the other facelift). Poor healing and skin loss, infection, are all significantly increased with smoking and any nicotine affect. Stop smoking before tummy tuck, six to eight weeks is better than two weeks. Longer is always better.