How bad is second hand smoke exposure following a breast augmentation?

Thank you for your question. Smoking before or after your surgery can increase your risk of developing complications including infection and wound healing problems. I tell my patients that it is ideal to stop a couple months ahead of surgery and then for a couple months after surgery. This would include exposure to second hand smoke.  Please discuss with your surgeon what their guidelines are for your particular surgery.

Studies show that secondhand smoke has deleterious effects on all those present around them. It is not as bad as smoking, but can affect the surgical outcome. I recommend to my patients who smoke to stop smoking for at least 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after surgery to minimize the effects of smoking and healing.

It is best to avoid all smoking after surgery.  Even though the breast augmentation incision is usually a very small one, I would not take any chances with your recovery.  Good luck and be safe.John T. Nguyen, MD, FACS, FICSDouble Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

It is recommended that you don't smoke following surgery due to possible delay of healing.  You should encourage your family and friends to discontinue smoking around you especially during your recovery.

.I doubt there is any significant effect secondhand smoke of any amount would have on breast augmentation. Nevertheless encourage your family and friends to quit smoking

Smoking is a bad health risk and second hand smoke probably isn't all that great for your health either.  Still, being around second hand smokers shouldn't have any impact on the results of your breast augmentation or recovery.  You can still hang out with your boyfriend and his grandfather.

It has been found that second hand smoke is not good. See if your family can be respectful to your recovery and not smoke in your presence.

You did not mention anything about a breast lift. If you are just having a breast augmentation without a lift, secondhand smoke is not a problem. In fact, smoking is not much of a problem for just breast enlargement. Patients who do not quit smoking at least 1 week before breast enlargement have more problem with coughing up mucuous in their lungs after the surgery.

Smoking around the time of surgery does increase potential complications for many procedures.  I am not aware of any specific data regarding the risks of second hand smoke and surgery, but theoretically the risks should be less than if you were smoking. That being said, if you can avoid the risk all together while you are in the healing period, that is probably the best policy.

While smoking and nicotine can be potentially harmful post surgery (especially if you had a breast lift), the concern is less if you are having a straight breast augmentation. It will be reasonable to ask your family and friends to refrain from smoking around you. You surgeon can guide you further as he or she understands the scope of the surgery and the specifics about you.