If I Stop Smoking 2 Week Before my TT Will I Be Ok?

Many patients struggle before their surgery with quitting smoking. I realized quitting is quite impossible for some, but decreasing the number of cigarettes is a big step. Some patients are able to stop smoking completely and if you can 2 weeks prior the surgery sounds great. Your body will get a chance to cleanse from nicotine and that will help out with the healing process. Ideally you should be at least 6 weeks without a single cigarette

Smoking brings a significant risk of cancer, stroke, heat attack, etc. From a Plastic Surgery standpoint it is a vasoconstrictor. Wound healing is all about getting oxygen and needed entities to the wound. It is well known that patient who smoke have a tremendous increase in their rate of serious complications, (infections, wounds falling apart, etc.). Nicotine is the main vasoconstrictor, so getting a patch or lozenge of nicotine won't help the vasoconstriction. Best to be off the tobacco/nicotine entirely before surgery. Please be honest with your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon. Together you can make a plan to quit and proceed with surgery. The amount of time between quitting and surgery will depend on the Plastic Surgeon and the procedure.

Smoking is very detrimental to the recovery process following surgery. It compromises your immune system making your body less effective in fighting infection. It also hinders circulation making the recovery process slower. I usually recommend my patients stop smoking about four weeks before surgery. Please ask your surgeon for their advice. 

Hello! Thank you for your question! The issue with nicotine is that it
also acts as a vasoconstrictor, clamping down of blood vessels. Blood
supply is always of great concern during any surgical procedure, but
especially in such a procedure as a breast augmentation where the viability of the
skin/tissue, and nipple-areolar complex is obviously important. Since the vascularity to
the area is already tenuous since it will be raised by cutting around
the area, maximizing blood flow to the tissue is critical. Typically,

we recommend at least 6 weeks of smoking cessation prior to and at
least 6 weeks after any surgical procedure. The longer, the better.
Nicotine always increases the risk for infection, nipple necrosis, poor
scarring, and
wound complications, as well as other health consequences including blood clots. The
anesthesia risk is greater with general anesthesia as well as pulmonary
issues/lung infections postoperatively. I would
discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Hope that this
helps! Best wishes!

I recommend that you stop smoking for at least six weeks prior to tummy tuck and no cigarettes for six weeks after either in order to properly heal.

Smoking poses serious risk for complications in tummy tucks.

I don’t  operate on people that smoke. I think they have a 10 fold increased risk for complications. I recommend the patient stops smoking for 6 weeks before. I do not operate on patients who smoke and desire a procedure that requires skin undermining like a facelift, tummy tuck, breast reduction or mastopexy as the risks for skin loss are too high.  They can stop smoking for 6 weeks and I will reconsider doing their procedure.