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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?
Asked 31 months ago by
Sleepy36 in Gulfport, MS
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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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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...
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Smoking and body lift surgery
You should stop smoking about 2 to 3 weeks before and after any plastic surgery procedure, especially body contouring surgery. Smoking can increase your wound healing complications and infection rates.
Also, smoking can increase your chances of developing a blood clot in your lower extremities (DVT-deep vein thrombosis). Please obtain medical clearance from your primary care physician prior to scheduling a body lift. You should also be honest with your plastic surgeon about how long...
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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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Need to completely stop smoking prior to surgery
For major body contouring operations, my patients need to be completely off all tobacco products for a minimum of one month prior to surgery.
For heavy smokers, I recommend a longer smoke-free period. It is also essential that patients stay off of tobacco products until they are completely recovered and all incisions have healed.
Smoking can not only increase the risk of wound healing problems, but will also lead to a higher likelihood of lung-related problems.
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Smoking and Body Lift Procedures
The dermis of the back is very thick and thus these areas respond very well to energy adjunctive liposuction such as laser assisted liposuction or ultrasound assisted liposuction. This allows the skin to retract with minimal scarring.
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
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No Smoking for 5 days? try at least 5 weeks.
Don't do it. I make my patients who are light smokers stop smoking for a month before a tummy tuck, and a body lift is much more extensive. Heavy smokers I don't even offer surgery. You would be taking too much of a risk by undergoing such a major procedure so soon after stopping smoking. Just imagine a segment of skin turning black and dying. You don't even want to consider such a possibility for elective surgery.
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As little smoking as possible, for as long as possible
Hello,
Cigarette smoking is not a good contributor to plastic surgery results especially for operations involving long skin incisions. How long you need to stop before and after surgery is debatable. I would say as little smoking as possible for as long as possible.
Best Regards and Good Luck.
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Smoking and Surgery
There are many studies that show cigarette smoking interferes with healing. In your case, do not have the surgery. Your surgeon would not want to perform this surgery if he/she knew you were still smoking. I require my patients to abstain from smoking at least 2 months prior to the surgery. Cancel the surgery for your sake and the surgeon's.
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Body Lift and Smoking
Dear Sleepy,
I think you are missing the point of smoke cessation before surgery. It has been documented in multiple studies that smokers (either active or second hand) have a vasoconstriction (active narrowing of ) their blood vessels. This vasospasm is accentuated by cold weather, stress, pressure on the skin etc.
Unlike other surgical specialties whose incisions do NOT undermine the skin (Ortho, Neuro etc), Plastic surgeons often undermine large areas (in Tummy tuck, body lifts, face lift...
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Smoking and body lift
Hi Sleepy,
Smoking and surgery just don't mix. Nicotine causes vasoconstriction (narrowing of blood vessels) which impedes wound healing. Therefore, those who smoke are at higher risk for wound complications compared to those who don't smoke. This is especially important in those having body lifts since large wounds are an inherent part of the procedure.
I typically tell my smoking patients that they should stop at least 2 weeks prior to surgery and 2 weeks after surgery. I also require...
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Smoking and a body lift
I absolutely would not do your surgery if you only stopped for five days. The risks of complications are extremely high for smokers.
