Smoking after breast augmentation. Will it affect my healing?

Question

Unfortunately for me like many other people smoking relieves my anxiety and helps me become less stressed. So today I had a smoke, just one and as much as it soothed my anxiety I feel extremely guilty and am wondering if this one cigarette could have an effect on my breast augmentation healing? I'm currently 10 days post op and before this one cigarette was able to go without smoking for 4 weeks!

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

It is unlikely one ciggarette 10 days postop will affects your healing. I generally tell patients to stop for 2 weeks pre\post surgery.

Jeffrey Umansky, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Patients who regularly smoke are advised not to smoke at least one month prior to surgery and one month post surgery. Smoking one cigarette should not dramatically effect recovery. However, it is best to refrain from smoking during the beginning stages of recovery. Good luck.

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

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.

Rod J. Rohrich, MD · Answer

I would not perform cosmetic surgery on a patient that smokes. This will increase complications and will impair wound
healing. I would advise a patient stop smoking 6-8 weeks prior to any type of
cosmetic surgery. Not smoking will optimize wound healing, safety, and overall
long-term health.

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

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 breast surgery where the viability of the 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 any surgical procedure. Nicotine always increases the risk for infection and wound complications, as well as other health consequences. This one cigarette will likely not impact vascularity, but I would discuss this with your surgeon prior to your procedure. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Smoking/Nicotine usage can increase your risk of capsular contracture (hard deformed implants) up to thirty times ! Hopefully this should allow you to stop. See the below link for more information.

Guy Watts, MBBS (Hons), FRACS (Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question. Smoking is extremely addictive for many reasons and an extremely difficult addiction to beat. You have obviously taken your surgeons advice seriously and refrained from smoking prior to surgery although the 3 weeks prior is pushing the limits. It is unlikely that a single cigarette will cause a problem for your wound healing after a breast augmentation but there is clear evidence that smoking in general limits wound healing. Many patients also think that nicotine patches are the alternative when the main problem is the nicotine itself. It causes spasm of the small vessels limiting blood supply to the wound edges and therefore impacts on healing. Quitting smoking prior to surgery is also extremely important as it increases your chances of anaesthetic complications. I would strongly advise that you refrain from smoking until your surgeon is happy with your post operative progress. Best regardsDr Guy Watts

Bryson G. Richards, MD · Answer

My recommendation would be to continue without smoking.There are plastic surgery procedures in which flaps are raised such as in facelift surgery, breast reduction, tummy tucks, brow lifts, etc. Smoking increases complications by 1200% in these types of procedures. Breast augmentation does not require a flap formation, therefore the increased risk is less, but smoking is known to be detrimental to wound healing.I hope this helps.- Dr. Bryson Richards

Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS · Answer

Smoking increases the risk of complications under anesthesia and can slow down your recovery and healing time after surgery.  While the risks are low for breast augmentation patients, its best to avoid smoking for during your post operative recovery.  You made it through four weeks without smoking.  Well done and keep it up!

Matthew H. Steele, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  Try not to feel guilty, I have been told by my patients that quitting smoking is the hardest thing they have ever had to do.  It is a very addictive habit.  Congratulations on being able to abstain for for 4 weeks.  I advise my patients to stop 4 weeks before and after.  From a health standpoint, it would be better if you stopped all together.  One cigarette is unlikely to make a huge difference, but it may trigger you to keep smoking on a regular basis which could result in slow healing, open wounds, bad scars, and implant infections or loss of your implant. The more nicotine you ingest, the greater the risk of healing complications. There are drug regimens such as Chantix and Wellbutrin which may be helpful.  Good luck.

Smoking after breast augmentation. Will it affect my healing?

Answers (18)

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