Is 15 Days Long Enough to Stop Smoking Before a Tummy Tuck or Should I Reschedule my Surgery?

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 tummy tuck where the viability of the belly button and skin flaps are obviously important. Since the vascularity to the area is already tenuous with the dissection of the abdominal tissue as well as cutting around the belly button, 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, skin flap necrosis, and wound complications, as well as other health consequences. There is an increase pulmonary risk with the anesthesia and postop lung infections. The most devastating consequence of infection, especially since the tissue is tightened, is increased. This along with wound healing and scarring. I would discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

   If you smoke 2 or 3 cigarettes a day, this period of time may be adequate to avoid complications.   However, heavier smokers should have at least one month.  Kenneth Hughes, MD Los Angeles, CA

15 days pre-op is not enough time to quit smoking prior to a tummy tuck in my personal opinion.  I recommend nicotine free a minimum of 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after.  I would call my surgeon's office and reschedule as the complications that you are at risk for as a smoker are not worth it!

Although there is no proven data about when stopping helps, I would recommend not smoking or using nicotine products for at least 6 weeks prior to surgery and 6 weeks after surgery.  Smoking/nicotine constricts the oxygen in your blood supply which can lead to wound healing problems or necrosis which, in turn, can lead to an unappealing scar or disfigurement and ultimately costly corrective surgery.  I realize smoking is a difficult habit to break but in the long run, quitting will only benefit your result and lead to better health.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon and if he/she recommends postponing your surgery by a few weeks, focus and use your surgery as motivation to quit smoking for good.  Best of luck!

This is a question you should ask your surgeon as different surgeons have different policies.  There is a no good answer.  What is known is that smoking around the time of surgery puts you at risk for surgical complications including infections and wound healing problems which are not always easily solved if they occur.  So, it is very important that you are completely honest with your surgeon about your smoking and if you really quit.  Even one cigarette can have a negative effect.

 

Good Luck.

In my opinion, you should reschedule.  I require a minimal of 4 weeks of cessation of all nicotine products prior to surgery.  8 weeks is optimal.  The risk of nicotine in your system at the time of surgery is great.  The procedure requires separating the abdominal tissue from the abdominal wall and a significant amount of it's blood supply.  Nicotine causes blood vessels to shrink, therefore decreasing the already reduced blood supply.  This can lead to tissue death, requiring long term wound care and a horrible scar.  This is not the result you want from an elective procedure.  

I would love to say that 15 days is enough or not enough, but there is no study that tells you how long you must wait.  I can tell you in my practice I usually suggest 4 weeks prior to an abdominoplasty.  Sometimes a week less if the patient is younger with a shorter smoking history, the patient smokes only socially on weekends, and or the patient smokes 1 or 2 a day.  I can only tell you that the longer you wait, the lower the risks.  Smoking complications can be DEVASTATING to the patient.  Its not worth the risk.  Good luck.

Hello. Stopping smoking is for your benefit. We always want the nicotine out of your system since it leads to problems with the skin healing( necrosis). We usually need about 4 weeks prior to surgery 

Most surgeons insist on their patients stopping smoking 4-6 weeks prior to surgery.  Nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor, may linger for many days after the patient has smoked.  This starves the tissues of oxygen and it literally dies.  

Your doctor and you will not likely want to take such a risk.

The danger comes postoperatively for some patients who 'sneak' a cigarette, only to wake up the next morning with a large dead area of their abdomen.  The same goes for the facelift procedure.  The effect can be immediate and drastic.  

As plastic surgeons, we take the tissues nearly to their limits when we perform surgery, and seemingly minor noncompliance can ruin the surgery or obligate the patient to many months of wound care.  Patients who smoke also are much more prone to bad scarring.

What did your surgeon say at the time of booking your surgery? If he was aware that you are a smoker, he likely told you that you need to quit 4-6 weeks before your procedure for your own safety.  You need to speak with your surgeon.