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

asked 7 months ago by buffyduck in Jonesboro, AR
Latest answer by J. Jason Wendel, MD
Question viewed 435 times
Tags: preparation, smoking

if i stop smoking 2 week before my surgery will i be ok

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

Stop smoking 2 weeks before tummy tuck

No, 2 weeks is not enough in my opinion. Abdominoplasty or tummy tuck is one of the procedures that due to the elevation of the skin envelope requires excellent blood supply. smoking causes vasospasm and constriction of blood vessels and therefore lead to some of the skin dying. I personally would recommend at least 3 months before proceeding after stopping smoking.

Rick Rosen, MD
Norwalk Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and tummy tuck don't mix

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.

J. Jason Wendel, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Smoking & A Tummy Tuck

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.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Smoking and surgery

I can’t stress it enough: A cigarette habit greatly compromises healing. Smoking triggers the release of skin-damaging free radicals, increases swelling, worsens scarring, and impedes healing by limited blood flow to the skin. If you smoke, you should refrain for at least two weeks before your procedure and two weeks after. That’s a month without nicotine, during a time when you’re likely to be anxious about undergoing and recovering from surgery. Since cutting out... more

Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Better than nothing but 6 weeks would be better

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

Gregory Turowski, MD, PhD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

No smoking for one month before and after a tummy tuck

Two weeks is absolutely not enough time to quit smoking before a tummy tuck. To be safe, you should quit for at least one month before surgery and stay away from all smoke, even secondary smoke for a month after surgery. A single cigarette can kill your belly skin and absolutely ruin your results. Take this advice very seriously. If you cheat, you are only cheating yourself and can mess up all that you have worked for. Quit smoking now and quit forever!

James McMahan, MD
Columbus Plastic Surgeon

Stopping smoking two weeks before surgery

There is absolutely NO way I would operate on a smoker who had only quit two weeks prior to surgery. I require no less than six weeks. I even administer a test that detects whether the patient is smoke-free or not. The reason myself and some other physicians are strict, isn't for our own health and well-being...it's for yours. An abdominoplasty is a big procedure than requires a large incision site. It is critical to have good blood supply to the incision site.... more

Jeffrey Hartog, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

If I Stop Smoking 2 Wks Before my TT Will I Be Ok?Answer:

There are 3 operations that carry the most risk in smokers and they are the "lifting" ones...Breast, Tummy and Face...I recommend to my patients at least 3 weeks before but...there is still a risk of problems including larger areas of dead skin on your tummy. One suggestion as well is that if you sneak a few cigs before surgery, please tell your doctor...They really need to know and may be able to make some changes at surgery to help reduce problems for you..

John J. Corey, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Nicotine use Before Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, there can be no guarantees that you will be “okay” despite stopping all nicotine products several weeks before surgery. In other words, complications may still arise despite everyone's best efforts. Please make sure you have selected a well experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Nicotine and abdominoplasty

I reccomend at least three weeks of smoking cessation before and three weeks after surgery. Even then, you may have a slightly increased of wound healing problems because of the longer term effects of nicotine.

Vishnu Rumalla, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

Stop smoking before tummy tuck

Most plastic surgeons advocate quitting smoking minimum of 6 weeks prior to surgical procedures. This is particularly important prior to abdominoplasty. The complication risks increase 6 times in smokers that non-smokers. Nicotine gum or patch can cause the same constriction of small vessels to cause similar complications. Smoking cessation should continue into the postoperative period as well to avoid additional problems. Be sure to be honest with your surgeon... more

Glen Brooks, MD
Springfield Plastic Surgeon

Smoking Cessation Prior to Plastuic Surgery

It is vital to completerly stop smoking before plastic surgery. Nicotine causes small blood vessels to go into spasm. This means these vessels cannot bring oxygenated blood to where it is needed at the healing edge. This means that smokers are more likely to have complications than a non smoker. Wound infections are more common, delayed healing is more common, bad scarring occurs more often and tissue death can even occur. It is not worth it to take a chance on an... more

Mary Lee Peters, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Smoking cessation before tummy tuck

Stopping smoking at any time is an excellent idea. Even though it is better to refrain from smoking for at least 1-3 months prior to surgery, it will help but there are no guarantees that this will give you immunity from the longterm results of nicotine on wound healing. You should also refrain from smoking after surgery. It's a great time to stop and not return to smoking. To reduce the risk of postop complications, you do have the option of completing a smoking cessation program and... more

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck, Smoking

Two weeks of no smoking is better than nothing, but this surgery is one that can be particularly prone to wound healing issues so I prefer to ask my patients to cease smoking for as long as possible (at least 4 weeks) before the abdominoplasty. I think it is equally important that they do not take up smoking again for at least 2 weeks after surgery.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD
Portland Plastic Surgeon

www.drdemarsmd.com

Smoking Cessation and Tummy Tuck

In my practice, I require patients to stop all nicotine containing products for four weeks before surgery and continue for at least four weeks postoperatively. While you may not have a complication after only two weeks, the potential for skin and tissue loss is still high and if it does happen, you will wish that you had stopped for the full four weeks. Extensive tissue loss is not easily correctable once the excess tissue has been removed by the tummy tuck. At best, you... more

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Stop Smoking 2 Weeks Before a Tummy tuck

While there is no guarantee of avoiding complications if you stop smoking before a tummy tuck. Most surgeons recommend 4 to 6 weeks of no smoking (or other tobacco use) before surgery AND for a few weeks after surgery. This allows your circulation and lungs to improve. If you can't stop for this long, consider a supervised smoking cessation program (ask your primary care doctor or plastic surgeon). Make sure you discuss this with your plastic surgeon.