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If I Am an Ex Smoker Can I Not Have Eyelid Surgery or a Necklift?

asked 10 months ago by xyzabc123 in Dublin, CA
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 434 times
Tags: candidate, smoking

If I Am an Ex Smoker Can i not Have Eyelid Surgery or a Necklift?

20 answers to If I Am an Ex Smoker Can I Not Have Eyelid Surgery or a Necklift?

+1

Ex smoker and Plastic Surgery

Thank you for the question. Your previous history of smoking is not a contraindication to the procedures you are interested in. I hope this helps.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Can an Ex Smoker Have Eyelid Surgery or a Necklift...

Smoking history is always a serious consideration when having surgery performed. In general, you should stop smoking 2-4 weeks before and 2-4 weeks after surgery to minimize side effects. If you truly are an ex-smoker, then you should have no problem going through eyelid surgery and a necklift as long you are in good shape medically. Make sure you inform your plastic surgeon as well as your primary care physician of your smoking history and they can properly guide you in... more
Andrew Miller, MD

Edison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.associatesinplasticsurgery.com

+1

Smoking and surgical procedure

Smoking absolutely compromises circulation and increases risk of post-op infection after procedures. As long as you are an 'ex-smoker', we should be okay with surgical procedures, including aesthetic or scar revisional procedures. For active smokers, I am realistic about the difficulty of smoking cessation and thus routinely ask them to at least reduce smoking by half to facilitate better wound healing.
William Ting, MD

Bay Area Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Blepharoplasty and Neck Lift in Smokers

Both lower Blepharoplasty and neck lift create flaps that have reduced blood supply. Since smoking reduces blood supply further, these procedures should not be done in active smokers. However, if you have been off tobacco products and Nicotine containing products (designed to help you stop) for longer than two months, then your blood supply has generally returned to as near normal as possible. At that point, you should, from a blood supply standpoint, be OK for the surgery. more
Robert T. Buchanan, MD

Highlands Plastic Surgeon
+1

I'm an ex smoker can I have eyelid surgery or a neck lift?

The answer is most likely to having eyelid surgery but the Neck Lift is another issue. Smoking decreases the blood's ability to carry oxygen that's crutial for skin healing after surgery. The larger the surgery, area of skin dissection, the more crutial this becomes. Eyelid surgery is a small area and as such, you should be OK. Neck Lifts are large surgeries requiring exstensive tissue dissection so the type and method, of Neck Lift may need to be... more
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking History and eyelid or facelift surgery

While a history of smoking can affect the healing in eyelid or facelift surgery, it is important how much was smoked for how many years AND how long has it been since you quit. This is more critical for the facelift surgery than eyelid surgery. These surgeries can be performed safely in a smoker using a conservative approach however there will be greater risks of delayed wound healing or infection. The longer it has been since you have quit the better, but optimally... more
Marialyn Sardo, MD

La Jolla Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ex smoker and facial cosmetic surgery

If you stopped smoking in the last six months or so, you may have a prolonged healing time for both eyelid and neck surgeries. The lids may be moderately swollen for longer that two months and the scars from the neck lift may take several months to fade. If it has been a few years, your healing time should fall within the norm. Both procedures can be done under local anesthesia with mild sedation.
Joseph N. Togba, MD

Oakland Plastic Surgeon

www.josephtogbamd.com

+1

Eyelid surgery no problem.

Neck surgery can be another matter do to the nature of how the neck lift is done. Healing is compromised as a result of small blood vessel disease as a result of the smoking. I personally won't perform a facelift on a smoker due to these issues for at least a year after smoking cessation. However, there are surgeons out there who feel that they can successfully operate on smokers. I think the advice that it is ok to have these procedures if you have not smoked for... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking and facial surgery

Thanks for your question - As the other physicians have noted facial surgery healing can be compromised by smoking. There can long term small vessel damage as well as the effect nicotine has in constricting blood vessels every time you puff that can cause the problem. Something that wasn't mentioned by the other authors include the risk of anesthesia in smokers. People who smoke have a more difficult time protecting their airway and are at higher risk for pneumonia as... more
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking and surgery

In genreal a non-smoker has lower risks of wound issues that develop in smokers. If you were a smoker, I usually have those patients stop smoking for about 3-4 weeks prior to surgery and keep away from smoking for another 3-4 weeks during the healing process.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smokers have increased risks with face/neck lifts.

As everyone has said, you are good to go if you have stopped smoking for 4 to 6 weeks. That is providing you don't have any conditions that were caused by smoking such as COPD or Emphysema. But you need to be stopped, not cheating by having one cigarette here and there. Congradulations too...........it is very tough to break that habit but stay the course as your life/health will just get better and better. And you will have more money in the bank although this takes second place to the... more
Harlow Hollis, MD

Victoria Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ex-smoking and necklift

Being an ex-smoker doesn;t automatically disqualify you from having eyelid surgery or a necklift. You need to be fully assessed by a board-certified plastic surgeon. Smoking history, or total pack years (i.e. number of packs per days times the number of years) may increase you risks of complications. Eyelid surgery generally is well-tolerated but a necklift has more risk in terms of healing problems or skin necrosis. Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking Before Surgery

The textbook answer is that you need to quit at least 2 weeks prior to surgery and continue without smoking for at least two weeks after surgery. Having said that, I recommend that my patients be nicotine free for at least 6 weeks before surgery and continue to refrain for at least 2 weeks postoperatively. Even second hand exposure to tobacco smoke is bad. Nicotine patches and gum (just like tobacco products) also compromise the blood supply to the skin and are... more
Jenifer L. Henderson, MD

Silverdale Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoker

I have done facial surgery on a lot of active smokers and rarely had a problem. Short skin flaps are advised with careful dissection and closure
David A. Bray, Sr., MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

SMOKING AND COSMETIC Face and eyelid surgery.

You can have surgery and will likely do just as well as anyone who never smoked. You present general health is the issue. If you are now healthy surgery will go fine. You past smoking should be an almost non issue. Best Dr G Commons
George Commons, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Exsmoker

Depending on your overall health an ex smoker can have surgery. There are several risk factors that are increased after smoking depending on the operation,length of time smoking and amount of cigarette consumption while smoking.
Jay M. Pensler, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking Necklifts and Blepharoplasty Do Not Mix Well

In general for someone whom is currently smoking healing from a Facelift or neck lift is compromised. The vascularity of the skin flaps is not as robust as it could be and the result is usually somewhat compromised. However if one has stopped smoking for more than 2 weeks (6 weeks preferably) healing is similar to someone whom has not smoked. Congratulations on cessation of smoking!!! With regards to Blepharoplasty - smoking is not a contraindication as the vascularity... more
Charles Perry, MD

Sacramento Plastic Surgeon
+1

Ex-smokers can have eyelid surgery

If you have quit for at least 3-4 weeks, facial surgery is relatively safe. Other factors are involved, ie how long you smoked and other related health issues. Obviously, the longer you have quit the better! Your surgeon will be able to assess these factors at the consultation.
Brian Klink, MD

Sacramento Plastic Surgeon
+1

Smoking and surgery

Eyelid surgery is relatively safe even if you are a smoker, however necklift should be done if you currently smoke. If you have quit smoking ~3 months ago, then it should be safe to have necklift too.
Mehryar (Ray) Taban, MD, FACS

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Eyelid surgery and Neck surgery

If you have not smoked in three weeks or longer, it is safe to proceed with neck and/or eyelid surgery, provided other general health and local issues do not contraindicate the procedures you are considering.
Steve Laverson, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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