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Is It Safe to Having Cosmetic Surgery if You Smoke Rarely?

asked 10 months ago by steffi2618 in Chicago, IL
Latest answer by Paul S. Gill, MD
Question viewed 372 times
Tags: frequency, necrosis, risk, smoking

By the time I will have a tummy tuck/breast lift, I will be almost smoke-free for a month. I smoke 1-2 cigarettes per WEEK. Are my risks similar to that of a non-smoker since I smoke so rarely, or am I still at an increased risk? I'm most concerned with necrosis...

16 answers to Is It Safe to Having Cosmetic Surgery if You Smoke Rarely?

Smoking and Elective Cosmetic Surgery

Remember this is elective cosmetic surgery. In addition to medical risk, there is a financial risk. You want to minimize both of these. Wound complications can add weeks to months of recovery time. With a combined breast lift and tummy tuck, i would take every precaution to minimize your chance of wound healing issues. I would recommend having time on your side and waiting a full 6 weeks before surgery and at least 1 month after surgery. ... more

Paul S. Gill, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and cosmetic surgery Mastopexy

Smoking increass of having complications with any type of surgery. Smoking causes vascular constriction which decreases the blood supply to tissues including skin flaps in the heart. Smoking also causes long-term damage to the blood vessels. When you stop smoking for 3 or 4 weeks prior to surgery you can get a reversal of the vessel constriction. The long-term damage cigarettes cause will still be present. Smoking a single cigarette will cause the blood vessels constriction and decreased... more

Wendell Perry, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.wperrymd.com

Safety in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery #mommymakeover, #tummytuck, #breastlift, #breastaugmentation

Dear Steffi2618 For optimal results in surgery- it is best not to smoke..... and !!!! for your skin and health it is best not to smoke! Smoking does not preclude you from being a surgical candidate but it does increase your risk of recovery delay and compications! With Warm Regards, Trevor M Born MD

Trevor M. Born, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Smoking does not fit well with many Plastic Surgeries

Tummy Tucks, Breast Lifts, Facelifts and smoking are MISFITS. Even an ex-smoker has higher risks compared to a non-smoker. Personally, I am comfortable operating after 4 weeks of TOTAL ABSTAINANCE from smoking. However, I am not opposed to a longer smoke free period. However, risks are always higher even in an ex-smoker compared to a non smoker for all of above surgeries.

Vasdev Rai, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Smoking

Any smoking increases the risks during surgery, however the more you smoke the greater the risk.

Jay M. Pensler, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Smoking Causes Complications with Wound Healing

The nicotine in cigarettes cause small vessels to go into spasm. Many plastic surgical procedures rely on capillary fill to deliver oxygenated blood to the healing area. Decreased blood supply can cause poor healing, wound infection and in worse case scenario, tissue loss. The longer you are off nicotine (including nicotine patches), the safer the surgery. If you have only recently stopped smolking and your surgeon and you choose to go ahead with surgery, it may be necessary to alter... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Stop smoking completely

All surgical procedures have risks and no reputable experienced plastic surgeon Will tell you that you cannot have complications. Smoking at any level increases the risk of wound healing problems. You are down to 1-2 cigarettes per day and paying a significant amount of money for cosmetic surgery. You want the best result as does your surgeon. Go the extra step and stop smoking for a month before and after surgery. You Will be glad you did.

Richard Linderman, MD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and surgery risks

Smoking any number of cigartettes carries a higher risk of skin necrosis. Stopping smoking is said to help, the risk remain. I agress with everthing said here especially about stopping smoking 4-6 weeks prior to surgery. And it would be even better if you do not smoke after surgery. Good luck

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and cosmetic surgery

Smoking in any form is no good for wound healing and can cause multiple problems and complications in surgery.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Smoking Risks and Cosmetic Surgery

Smoking is the single most important thing to NOT do before your surgery. The reason is that it impairs your body's ability to deliver oxygen to your tissues, which is what they need to heal. That is where the risk of necrosis or tissue death comes into play. Any "big" surgeries such as tummy tuck, breast lift or face lifts have a higher risk for this if you are a smoker - and you are having two of these! Stopping for 4 weeks prior to surgery has been shown to be beneficial... more

Vincent P. Marin, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Smoking Affects Some Cosmetic Procedures More Than Others

Although almost everyone will have less problems if they are not smoking at the time of surgery, smoking definitely affects some operations more than others. Unfortunately tummy tucks are a great risk for necrosis if patients smoke post-operatively and breast lifts to a somewhat lesser degree. I do not attempt to have augmentation stop smoking, but I will not perform a full tummy tuck on a smoker. There is a significant disruption of the normal blood supply in tummy... more

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Cosmetic surgery for the occasional smoker

Smoking is a clear red flag for healing problems after a tummy tuck. If it is true that you only smoke about 2 cigarettes each week, then your risks are rather small, but why smoke at all for four weeks before your procedure. It doesn't seem to be much of a sacrifice for a worry free recovery. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Avoid smoking for 2-4 weeks before plastic surgery

Smoking before plastic surgery can cause many complications such as infection, poor scarring, necrosis of skin, and wound healing problems. The longer you can stop smoking before surgery the lower the incidence of these complications. Most surgeons will recommend to stop smoking anywhere from 2-6 weeks before surgery. This may vary based on the particular procedure you are having done. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon for a more in depth discussion on this matter. Best... more

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Necrosis and smoking

I have had a breast case with necrosis 3 weeks after the procedure due to smoking. If you are truely concerned about necrosis then you should listen to your Doctor and stop when he says to stop and not smoke even a single cigarette or have any nicotine product during the time before and after the procedure.

Victor Au, MD
Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and plastic surgery

I will not perform a facelift, abdominoplasty, body lift on anyone who smokes at all. must stop for at least 6 weeks. the complication rate goes thru the roof. other procedures can be performed but have a higher complication rate then in a non smoker and the scars will be worse. the "vasospasm" from the nicotine causes the problems.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and Cosmetic Surgery

I recommend that my breast lift and/or tummy tuck patients be nicotine free for a minimum of 1 month prior to surgery. Smoking can cause problems with wound healing and so if you were just going to have a breast augmentation with a small incision, I wouldn't worry as much but since you are having the breast lifting and the tummy tuck surgery, we need you to recover properly and have the wounds heal properly. Talk to your surgeon and see what they recommend. more