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.
