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Five Days Smoke Free Before Body Lift?

I am having torsoplasty (body lift) in five days and just stopped smoking today. Will five days smoke-free prior to surgery aid in my recovery as long as I continue not to smoke afterwards?

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body contouring

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by Sleepy36 in Gulfport, MS

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Body lift and smoking

If I were your surgeon, I would cancel your case. These body contouring procedures put a lot of stress on the blood supply of the skin and your chance of delayed wound healing and really bad scarring is much increased. Also, smoking screws up your lungs and increases secretions that can be a problem with general anesthetic. Smoking also increases your chance for blood clots. I turn smokers away and tell them to come back with they are non-smokers. They also... more

Smoking and cosmetic surgery

It is well known that tobacco use (smoking) hinders healing potential and increases your risk of healing problem. It is great that you have stopped smoking for 5 days. But I generally recommend for a body lift that my patients are tobacco free for at least 4 weeks before and definitely after surgery. Your body lift is an elective procedure and you want to do your best to optimize your healing potential. Even being tobacco free does not erase your past history of... more

Smoking cessation before body lift surgery

I would say that 5 days of smoking cessation is not enough time for your body to metabolize the negative chemicals contained in tobacco as well as allowing your lungs to recover from smoking. Usually it will take at least 3 weeks to clear your system of these effects. If you quit now you may be looking at prolonged healing, wound break down, as well as pulmonary problems and even pneunomia. This is your body and your money. Consider it not worth the risk.

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Smoking Cessation Prior To Surgery

Nicotine causes small vessels to go into spasm which prevents blood flow through these areas. The decreased blood flow means a lack of oxygen where it is most needed. As a smoker, you are more likely to have delayed healing, wound disruption, and wound infection. Four -six weeks off of tobacco is really in your best interest with this important undertaking. Be honest with your surgeon so that neither of you will regret this undertaking.

Smoking and surgery

Thank you for your question. I do not think that 5 days of being smoke free is good enough. In my practice, I suggest that patients are nicotine free for at least 4 weeks prior to this type of surgery. Smoking increases your risk of wound healing problems after surgery and so the longer you can be off of nicotine, the better for your recovery. I hope this helps.

Must stop three weks before

I reccommend patients stop smoking at least three weeks before and three weeks after. This includes no nicotine patches. You are at greater risk for wound complications with five days of smoking cessation. Does your surgeon know?

The SMOKING curse !

Unfortunately the smoking curse affects many people and is the bane of Plastic Surgeons worldwide. Nicotine, the drug that is delivered to your body when you smoke, is actually the culprit that causes the most immediate trouble when it comes to Plastic Surgery, however. This drug causes blood vessels to clamp down and thus restricts the blood flowing through the blood vessel. This is quite important because blood has the job of carrying oxygen to the tissues in your body and... more

This is elective cosmetic surgery!!

A lower body lift is an elective cosmetic surgery. As with any elective surgery, we want to minimize risk by a thorough preoperative workup, maximizing nutrition, and smoking cessation for at least 4 weeks. As a patient, you should realize this procedure will have a very positive impact on your self esteem and body image. In order to maximize this benefit, I recommend that you throw out the cigarettes for good and take your health more seriously. There... more

Smoking causes horrible problems after many plastic surgery procedures

5 days is not long enough to stop smoking before a major surgery like a body lift. I would recommend at least 3-5 weeks of smoking cessation before surgery. And, even with smoking cessation 3-5 weeks prior to surgery, your risk of wound healing problems is still greater than that of a non-smoker. The damage is done to the small vessels that carry blood to the skin. But active smoking before surgery is even worse, so you should stop smoking at least 3-5 weeks prior to... more

Smoking and body lifts

I think you should postpone your surgery for at least 3 weeks from when you stopped smoking. Even with that, depending on multiple factors, you may be at some increased risk of wound healing issues for some time.

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